Ballykinlar is backed as base for new college

Ballykinlar is backed as base for new college

10 June 2015

BALLYKINLAR should be the base for a new joint training college for the police, fire and prison services, according to a former Stormont minister.

Jim Wells, who recently resigned as Health Minister, said Ballykinlar presents a viable alternative to failed plans to construct the complex at Desertcreat, near Cookstown. As Health Minister Mr Wells was responsible for the Fire and Rescue Service.

The Treasury has withdrawn £53m funding from the £130m project which effectively means the end of plans to build the complex in Co Tyrone. However, Mr Wells believes the vacant Ballykinlar army camp could easily become the site of such a training college.

While funding for the project committed by the Treasury has been withdrawn, the Department of Justice insists the development of a joint training college “remains a programme for government commitment.”

Mr Wells, who stepped down as health minister last month, said it is “extremely unfortunate” funding for the new training college near Cookstown seems to have been withdrawn by the Treasury and that it’s “unlikely the construction of the facility will proceed in the immediate future.”

He continued: “The Ballykinlar site does however represent a viable interim alternative as this facility already has almost all of the facilities required to train police and fire and rescue staff. The accommodation on the site has been refurbished within the last few years and there are firing ranges and several areas which are ideally suited for training purposes.

“The fact that all of these facilities are already in place provides an opportunity to provide an excellent training facility at a low cost to the Northern Ireland block grant.”

Mr Wells added: “The provision of a training college at Ballykinlar will provide employment opportunities for local people, many of whom have experience working in Ballykinlar when it was a fully operational army barracks. Local businesses will also benefit from the presence of such an important facility.”

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has reiterated her belief that the former army base has the potential to be developed into an all-island training facility for the emergency services.

She is demanding the Northern Ireland Executive and the British government make Ballykinlar the location for such a centre and has discussed the issue with Justice Minister David Ford and the Ministry of Defence in London.

“The existing infrastructure is already in place at Ballykinlar and volunteers from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Irish Coastguard Service already undertake training operations at the base due to its close proximity to the sea and the Mournes,” the MP continued.

“I have been informed by Mr Ford that with support from him and the Minister for Health, the steering group for the community safety college has asked the Programme Board to develop a revised business case for consideration by the Executive in the autumn.”

The MP explained this will include identifying a range of options for the future delivery of service training, including an option that assumes maximum delivery of sites and premises currently owned by the emergency services and the Policing Board.

“I would hope this includes Ballykinlar and would include the need to locate an all island emergency training service at that base,” she said.

The MP added: “I will continue to pursue this issue with Mr Ford and the Secretary of State for Defence as a matter of priority and urgency as such a proposal would provide a new economic opportunity, sustaining existing and providing new jobs for the people of this part of South Down.”