Bushmills PSNI station plans for future?

Members of the Bushmills Trust and the Bushmills Village Forum addressed members of Moyle Council last Monday night, seeking approval of their plans for the old PSNI station.

Alan Summers from BVF and Roy Bolton from the Trust explained that the building, which is owned by the NI Policing Board, consists of two units and ground to the rear.

He added that a feasibility study had been carried out and the preferred option for the building - which is estimated at a value of £140,000 - was to turn the current existing building into self catering accommodation and to use the rear ground as car parking with 26 much-needed spaces.

It was proposed that the Bushmills Trust - a community owned registered charity - be the lead body in the project and that any profit made from running the self-catering accommodation would be ploughed back into community projects in Bushmills.

The representatives said they realised that Moyle Council was in its last weeks of working before it becomes part of the new Causeway Coast and Glens Council but asked for Moyle’s support in recommending the project to the new super Council.

Chair of Moyle District Council Cllr Donal Cunningham said that Bushmills was an excellent “example for other towns and villages to follow” and said he would happily recommend the project to the new Causeway Coast and Glens Council, saying that it would be “money well spent”.

Cllr Joan Baird said that Bushmills had improved by “leaps and bounds” and was now in a position to boast a cafe culture, excellent craft shops and some of the finest eating establishments in the area.

“It is the gateway to the Causeway and the secret to success is to encourage people to come and stay in the area.”

Cllr Cara McShane spoke of the “very positive relationship” between Council and the groups but added that she would like to see “more substance” to the plans.