Can't Fathom It was formed to give the people of Newry & Mourne a voice against the proposals to build the Southern Relief Road
Can't Fathom It is a community-led group formed to oppose the proposed Newry Southern Relief Road (NSRR), a £130 million, 4km road project that threatens to harm our environment, health, and quality of life.
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We believe this road is the wrong solution for Newry and the surrounding areas. Instead of addressing traffic congestion, it will create new problems, including:
Air Pollution: Increased traffic, particularly HGVs, will worsen air quality, putting our health at risk.
Noise Pollution: The road will bring constant noise to residential areas, disrupting lives and reducing the enjoyment of outdoor spaces.
Environmental Destruction: The NSRR will destroy ancient woodlands, fragment wildlife habitats, and harm protected species like red squirrels, otters and pine martens.
Flood Risks: The road’s construction will alter waterways, increasing the risk of flooding in an area already vulnerable to extreme weather.
No Opening Bridge: The proposed bridge over the Newry Ship Canal will not open, disrupting navigation and harming the canal’s heritage and economic value.
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At a cost of £130 million for just 4km, the NSRR is an expensive and unsustainable project that fails to address the root causes of traffic congestion. We believe the money could be better spent on sustainable alternatives, such as:
- Improving public transport.
- Expanding rail freight to reduce HGV traffic.
- Enhancing cycling and walking infrastructure.
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We are fighting to protect our community, our environment, and our future. Join us in saying **NO** to the Newry Southern Relief Road and **YES** to sustainable, forward-thinking solutions.
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Together, we can’t fathom why this road is being pushed forward—but we can fathom a better way forward.
STOP THE SOUTHERN RELIEF ROAD
Local people fighting to preserve the unspoiled, biodiverse critical green space of Fathom Mountain and to protect the people of Newry from the environmental and public health consequences of building the Southern Relief Road.
Who Benefits?
THE COST OF THE SOUTHERN RELIEF ROAD
INCREASED AIR
POLLUTION
DUE TO RISE IN
FREIGHT TRAFFIC
Air pollution already causes millions of deaths each year worldwide. With our climate in crisis and air pollution linked to strokes, heart disease and cancer, we do not believe that the Southern Relief Road is a sensible, safe or sustainable option for the Newry area.
LOSS OF ANCIENT WOODLANDS AND IMPORTANT WILDLIFE HABITATS
Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to the survival of Irish wildlife. The Southern Relief Road will destroy and irreparably damage acres of critical, bio-diverse ancient forest, threatening the survival of vulnerable species like Red Squirrels, Bats and Badgers in our area.
