Joint council body backs Exploris plans

Joint council body backs Exploris plans

19 March 2014

THE committee overseeing the merger of Ards and North Down councils has approved a business plan aimed at securing government finance for the beleaguered Exploris aquarium in Portaferry.

Both local authorities are due to merge next year to form one of 11 new super councils created as a result of sweeping local government reforms across the Province.

The support of the transition committee overseeing the Ards and North Down merger is viewed by those campaigning for the doors of the aquarium to be kept open as a timely boost.

However, there are concerns that major government departments have yet to

formally endorse the business plan prepared by Ards Council which would pave the way for the local authority’s Exploris contribution to reduce from £500,000 to £200,000 a year.

The Department of Environment (DoE) has agreed to commit £120,000 a year to maintain the aquarium’s seal sanctuary and a one-off payment of £45,000 to upgrade the facility. But it has still to approve the business case.

Elaine Roddy, secretary of the Friends of Exploris Trust campaigning to keep the aquarium open, said the DoE has asked for a number of amendments to be made to the business case. The news was revealed during a meeting three Trust directors had with Ards Council officials last week.

“Officers outlined the work that has been done with the business plan for Exploris since the last Ards Council meeting in February,” Elaine explained.

“The plan had been presented to and approved by the statutory transitional council, with officers from Ards Council meeting with DoE officials the previous week when they had been asked to make further amendments.”

Elaine explained the business plan was returned to the government department on Monday of last week, with a list of further amendments to be made received by email the following afternoon.

She continued: “On each of these occasions, Ards Council was told that once these amendments had been made the business plan would be forwarded on to the Department of Finance and Personnel and to the Executive. On each occasion the goalposts appeared to change.

“Friends of Exploris is impressed by the effort Ards Council has put into developing this plan and believe it is doing its utmost to meet all the demands being made by the civil servants at the Department of the Environment.”

Elaine said local authority officers have been very frank with them and are insistent on ongoing direct communication with Friends of Exploris Trust.

She added: “The Council also hopes to continue to work with Friends of Exploris Trust in the future development of Exploris. We have agreed to continue to support the Council by lobbying and in any other way that we can in order to save Exploris.”