CONCERN is mounting that Northern Ireland’s only aquarium on the shores of Strangford Lough will remain shut over the summer.
Council officials revealed recently that Exploris in Portaferry will remain closed during the peak holiday season after its planned refurbishment programme suffered a major funding blow.
Ards Council — which owned and managed the aquarium before it was merged with North Down — failed to appoint a contractor to undertake refurbishment work earlier this year which resulted in £214,000 in promised funding from the Department of Environment being withdrawn.
The new Ards and North Down Council is making efforts to have the government funding reinstated as soon as possible, with pressure growing for the aquarium to be reopened.
The Friends of Exploris Trust is calling for the aquarium to be opened over the peak summer season and is concerned that refurbishment work on the facility is yet to get underway. It believes there is no reason why the doors cannot reopen as most of the aquarium’s tanks are still operational.
Trust member Dr Julia Sigwart said the organisation was “dismayed” work to refurbish the aquarium, which she described as the main tourist destination in this part of the upper Ards area, has not started despite funding being in place for almost a year. She said as a result of “inaction,” £214,000 of the original £914,000 has been lost.
“Exploris was closed in November last year before the procurement process had started with the search for a contractor stalled in January of this year,” she explained.
“If the procurement process started again tomorrow there would still be no contractors on site before the autumn. The remaining allocated funds should be spent within this financial year, but without action this funding could also be lost.”
Dr Sigwart said the prolonged closure was having a “significant, negative impact” on businesses and other tourist attractions in the Ards and elsewhere.
She continued: “Ards Council invested significantly in an excellent business case and the funding was agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive, yet it may well disappear completely due to protracted negotiations between local and central government.
“According to the council’s own findings, effective marketing for Exploris attracted up to 100,000 visitors annually generating up to £3m of additional income to the surrounding area. People in Portaferry, Northern Ireland and worldwide campaigned to keep this unique aquarium and seal sanctuary open.”
Jade Berman, Living Seas manager with Ulster Wildlife, described the extended closure as a “real shame.”
She added: “It would be wonderful if a way could be found to open it up over the summer months while the tendering process for the renovations is sorted before any more money availability expires.”
Ards and North Down Council reaffirmed its commitment to Exploris during a meeting last week when it discussed options for both refurbishment plans and new management arrangements to be in place for next summer.
It is also to continue discussions with the DoE, hoping for more flexibility on the timeframe the money it is offering can be spent.
Council chairman, Alan Graham, said the local authority was in no doubt of the strength of public opinion in favour of reopening Exploris.
He was pleased members were unanimous in their support for the facility at last week’s meeting and were “totally committed to reopening the aquarium as a tourist attraction.”