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South Armagh Business Improvement Group, North Street, Crossmaglen, Newry (2026)

Vision
To create an organisation to act as a catalyst for promoting the South Armagh region for retail, tourism, producers, all employment and investment opportunities. Mission
To be recognised as an organisation that can effectively deliver significant projects. Strategy
-To connect businesses across South Armagh to encourage collaboration and growth.
-To represent the area with potential fun

ders and supporters. Council, European Peace Funds)
-To collaborate with other partners to deliver projects and avoid duplication.
-To create distinct marketing campaigns under a single South Armagh brand. For example
Tourism / Events
-Authentic, unexplored, active, friendly, welcoming

Retail / Business
Love South Armagh, Support your local business

South Armagh Business Improvement Group Region:
Bessbrook, Belleeks, Camlough, Crossmaglen, Cullaville, Cullyhanna, Dromintee, Forkhill, Jonesborough, Lissummon, Meigh, Mullaghawn, Newtownhamilton, Poyntzpass, Whitecross and Silverbridge.

16/04/2026

South Armagh Business Improvement Group, alongside The Road Ahead NI and Silverbridge GFC, is raising serious concerns about the safety of the Fords Cross junction in Silverbridge.

This is a staggered crossroads with no traffic lights, poor road markings, and inadequate signage. A combination that puts lives at risk every day. While we are relieved to hear announcements regarding resurfacing works taking place in the upcoming weeks more work needs to be done with regards to safety at this junction in particular. Local residents, road users, and visitors all know the dangers of this junction. Near misses are common. The question is not if a serious accident will happen, but when. We cannot afford to wait for a tragedy before action is taken.

In response, are calling on the community to speak up. 📝 A short 2-minute survey has been launched to gather public opinion on the safety of Fords Cross

Please complete this 3 minute survey https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/bebcAbL5F1

12/04/2026

Press Release: New Work starting on A29 at Silverbridge, and significant decrease in the number of registered potholes

It is great news that work on the A29 from Tullydonnell to Silverbridge is to commence today (13/04/2026). The works costing in the region of £650,000, will address the badly deteriorated national route that runs through the heart of South Armagh.

John Nealon, Chair of the South Armagh Business Improvement Group outlined:

“This is absolute brilliant news, and credit needs to going to our local public representatives and to the Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for securing funding for the project. Additionally, significant patching was deployed across the South Armagh, with registered potholes down significantly from the start of March figures.

Pothole patching is not a permanent solution, and here are many other stretches of road that need attention in South Armagh, but today we focus on these two positive news stories!”

Our South Armagh Business Improvement Group pothole tracker is provided below.

24/02/2026

Date: 22nd February 2026

Press Release: The epidemic of potholes continues in South Armagh

Our data (shown below in a graph) proves that the pothole situation in South Armagh is continuing to disimprove – with close on 600 registered potholes.

John Nealon, Chair of the South Armagh Business Improvement Group outlined “The sheer number of potholes now registered indicates that the problem is now reaching epidemic proportions. Having contacted the Department of Infrastructure, it was outlined that due to budgetary constraints, the Department has had to introduce a limited service maintenance policy meaning that only the highest priority road defects are repaired. I am now calling on the Department to recognise that South Armagh is now priority area. Anything less is simply not acceptable.”

The South Armagh Business Improvement Group continues to ask the local community and all local road users to record potholes on the DfI Roads website https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/report-pothole-or-other-surface-defect .

For further information email [email protected] or contact John on 00353872436872

04/02/2026

Press Release: Clearer picture emerges of pothole "hotspots" in South Armagh

Following a huge local community response, the number of reported potholes in the South Armagh area has increased from 44 up to over 229 in less than 2 weeks.

These figures are provided by the South Armagh Business Improvement Group, who are spear-heading a campaign to improve the general condition of roads. While there is significant individual potholes (probably more accurately described as craters) across the Slieve Gullion Electoral District, the group have identified a number of key black spot areas. These include

Crossmaglen to Newry Road to town speed limit, and onto Fords Cross
The A29 from Tullydonnell service station up to Silverbridge Gaa Club
The area around Fords cross
Junction with Culloville Road in Crossmaglen Square
Cullyhanna Village area
Annaghmare
Foxfield Road
McShane road off the A29

Having identified these pothole hotspots the South Armagh Business Improvement Group have decided to write to the Minister for Infrastructure, Liz Kimmins asking for information on general road improvement plans for the area and more specifically when works on these pothole blackspots will commence.

The South Armagh Business Improvement Group continues to ask the local community and all local road users to record potholes on the DfI Roads website https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/report-pothole-or-other-surface-defect .

03/02/2026

NEW!-DERELICT or VACANT or
UNDER-USED (including upper floors)
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY GRANT
Grants of up to £200,000

60% of costs*

Main criteria:
 Must be commercial property
 Renovations/works must be
completed by March 2028.
 Must be in the Newry Mourne
and Down Council area
 Must be within a town/village
limits

*Eligible works:
 Structural repairs and
refurbishment
 Conversions and Upper
floor reactivation
 Site clearing and
preparation costs
 Professional fees
(subject to quotation)

This scheme will be launched in April and will be
oversubscribed quickly – so prepare NOW!

19/01/2026

Date: 18th January 2026

Press Release: Local Business Group launches “Pothole watch” for South Armagh

The South Armagh Business Improvement Group today launched its “Pothole Watch” campaign to get an immediate improvement to the condition of roads, and in particular reduce the number of dangerous potholes in the area.

Speaking at the launch in Crossmaglen, Chairman of the South Armagh Business Improvement Group John Nealon stated “There are a number of problems with the general surface conditions in our area, but potholes are the most pressing. These potholes are causing car tyre punctures, pose a danger to cyclists and are not helping the broader development of the area – how can we encourage business to come and establish in our area, if, when they visit, have to constantly swerve to avoid the potholes.

The first aim of the Business representative group is to get an accurate measure of the number of potholes in the area. This was explained by John Nealon. “As only 44 potholes (as of the 04/01/2026) are noted on the DfI Roads website, there is a massive under reporting of the problem of potholes in the area. So, part of our social media campaign is to encourage all road users to report any potholes in the area.

Additionally, South Armagh Business Improvement Group will be commissioning some work to submit pothole information in relation to the main routes in our area. Once an accurate figure is arrived at, we will then be engaging with the DfI Roads, to ensure a significant improvement is achieved in reducing the number of pothole in the area.”

South Armagh Business Improvement Group encourages all road users in the area to record potholes on the DfI Roads website https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/report-pothole-or-other-surface-defect .

For further information email [email protected] or contact John on 00353872436872

Photos attached of potholes on a ¼ mile stretch of A29 road near Silverbridge

Address

North Street, Crossmaglen
Newry
BT359AB

Website

facebook.com

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