Larne Council 'should be jumping through hoops' to help Larne marina plan
LARNE Marina Co claimed this week the local council should be "jumping through hoops" to help progress its proposed development at Sandy Bay.
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. It had demonstrated “how a private entrepreneur investing in the town can benefit the town as a whole” and LMC urged,”Larne Borough Council should take note.”
FAILING
The spokesman claimed, “The Council is failing to show the leadership required in support of business and developers whose vision and investment are the only way forward to bring change and improvement to the town. The young people cry out for better facilities and opportunities that can be created.
“At the moment the reality is that the people of Moyle District Council will be reaping the benefit and future rewards from the foresight of their council, whereas the Larne community seems destined to be deprived of the same dividends in the face of its council’s inaction.
“Larne Marina Co remain ready, willing and able to honour their agreement with Larne Borough Council and are actively working and funding a planning submission for the Larne marina village amended scheme. At this moment in time we do not know if Larne Borough Council will reciprocate.
“Larne town is set in some of the most attractive coastline in Ireland and we cannot understand why council are not jumping through hoops to achieve this fantastic project for the town and reap the obvious benefits of tourism, prestige, investment and jobs - as demonstrated by Bangor and Carrickfergus - and we once again call upon council to demonstrate the leadership required to bring these modern facilities to our town.”
The Larne Times understands that the marina proposed at Cushendall is a stand-alone scheme which does not require residential development to finance it. We are also informed that Moyle council’s sale of the land required is subject to planning approval and conditional upon no impingement on existing facilities, including the Red Bay caravan park, RNLI station and boat club. The council has also stipulated that public access must be maintained.
APPLICATIONS
LMC has two major planning applications under consideration at present. After nearly 10 years, Planning Service had signalled its intention to refuse the original plan, which proposed a marina and apartments complex. The application is subject to appeal.
The company subsequently lodged a separate application for a marina village development.
Both plans are vehemently opposed by Larne Promenade Action Group.
The developer requires land owned by the council to proceed with the venture.
In the spring the council announced that the 1988 waterfront development competition which resulted in LMC’s appointment as preferred developer must be reviewed, after the Northern Ireland Ombudsman produced a scathing report of the council’s handling of a similar contest to find a development partner for the regeneration of Glenarm.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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