Rival Bid Renews Debate Over Causeway Centre

There's continuing debate over the proposed new visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway this week with news of a serious counter bid to developer Seymour Sweeney's plan.

An official partnership between the National Trust and Moyle Council has been forged which could mean a fresh planning application to replace the council-owned visitor centre, which was damaged in a fire in 2000.

This would be instead of Mr Sweeney's plans for the centre - which seeks to build on nearby land already in his ownership.

The National Trust owns the famous Causeway stones, while Moyle Council owns the existing visitor centre site and car park.

Under the proposed partnership the council's landholding would be leased to the Trust who will lead the scheme's planning.

Controversially, the new partnership no longer wants the Department of Enterprise involved as a co-partner.

Already, representatives from the Council and the Trust have met with Enterprise Minister, Nigel Dodds to outline their new plans.

Madeline Black, Chair of Moyle District Council, said: "We had a really positive meeting with the Minister and his officials.

"Moyle District Council strongly believes that visitor facilities at the Giant's Causeway should remain in public ownership and that income generated should be reinvested."

Hilary McGrady, the National Trust's Director for Northern Ireland, said: " Our goals are the same as those of Minister Dodds. We too want to ensure that new visitor facilities at the Causeway will be of a world-class standard, provide good value to the public purse and are timely.

"We are also committed to ensuring that UNESCO's requirements for the protection of the World Heritage Site are met.

The Trust and Council had initially been part of a long-standing Government-led scheme for the new Causeway centre, but the DUP Minister, Nigel Dodds, put that project on hold in September, after his colleague, Environment Minister, Arlene Foster announced she was "of a mind" to grant planning permission to Mr Sweeney's rival blueprint, which has since been dogged by controversy on foot of alleged close ties to the Ministers Dodds and Fosters' Democratic Unionist party

A final decision on his application has yet to be taken.

(GK/SP/BMcC)