Bill and David Liddle, whose quest for planning permission and council backing for a marina and associated development has endured for more than a decade, said there was a "stark contrast" in Cushendall, where Moyle District Council had given "wholehearted and enthusiastic support" to a developer's bid to build a 100-berth marina.

News that work on the Glens venture could start next spring prompted a "highly frustrated" Larne Marina Co to issue a press release in which it hit out at "the lack of progress emanating from Smiley Buildings".

For its part, Larne council replied that as the marina company had requested permission to make a presentation to the council it would be "inappropriate" to comment.

A spokesperson for the local authority added, "Council have resolved to consider the benefits and the best location for a proposed development and until then council cannot comment further."

LMC said Ballycastle developer McFall Construction had the full backing of Moyle council and both parties were working in partnership on the project "in the belief that it will be a building block to carry tourism and business for the area into the future".

The statement added, "This is in marked contrast to the approach of Larne Borough Council to their agreements with the Larne Marina Co. The team behind the £42.5 million project for Larne, generating an estimated £3 million annual additional spend into Larne economy with the creation of approximately 40 jobs, are highly frustrated by the lack of progress emanating from Smiley Buildings at Victoria Road."

The release quotes an LMC spokesman stating, "Moyle District Council are showing Larne the way in their openness and enthusiastic support for their developer partner and their joint plans to build a marina facility at Cushendall.

"The council are giving their developer partner every encouragement and understand the importance that this project will have for the Glens location. Both parties are hoping the project will commence in the spring of 2009.

"Unfortunately, the contrast in attitude of Larne Borough Council to our project could not be more stark.

"The Larne Marina Co, having responded to an advertisement from council, made a presentation to them and were accepted as their preferred developer. The company have invested in research and development for almost 10 years to evolve an ambitious future-shaping design satisfying environmental issues and gaining widespread local support.

"The Larne marina village proposal ticks all the boxes of the original council advertisement and is a unique opportunity to regenerate the borough. We are all aware of and witness daily the continuing decline of Larne town. We see businesses closing, dereliction of Main Street properties, inadequate facilities for tourism, sports, recreation, etc. while other centres flourish."

LMC said the most encouraging enterprise in the town recently had been Laharna Retail Park.