Council chair on attack over Exploris

Council chair on attack over Exploris

THE chair of one of Northern Ireland’s super councils has launched a scathing attack on a neighbouring council over the loss of over £200,000 in grant aid for the Exploris aquarium in Portaferry.

Naomi Baillie, chairwoman of Newry, Mourne and Down Council has said it is “absolutely disgraceful” that £214,000 has been lost because Ards Borough Council failed to appoint a contractor to undertake work as part of a major refurbishment programme.

The aquarium is closed until the refurbishment has been completed although it is not known when it will reopen.

Miss Baillie, who lives in nearby Ballygalget, said the legacy Ards Borough Council “made a dogs dinner” of the refurbishment scheme when it was in charge and the new Ards and North Down Council “seem to have inherited their incompetence.”

“This is a shameful disgrace,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

“As chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council I will be writing to and seeking an urgent meeting with our neighbouring council to find out how and why this was allowed to happen.

“The continued closure of Exploris has a significant and detrimental impact on our local economy and villages right across the Lecale Coast are suffering,” added the Sinn Fein chair.

“Get your act together Ards and North Down Council. I am not embarrassed by Portaferry but I’m certainly embarrassed by Ards and North Down Council.”

A spokesman for Ards and North Down Council said the authority remains committed to completing the refurbishment of Exploris and ensuring it has a sustainable future.

The council is trying to get the money reinstated and a further update would be provided when the Environment Minister responds with regard to the capital funding offer.