Council to defer decision on Market Yard museum project

The decision was made at Tuesday’s meeting of Council when councillor Timothy Deans spoke of his “major concerns” over the cost of the project to date.

“I am disappointed that we did not have a special meeting to discuss this,” said Cllr Deans.

“I am aware of Coleraine’s significant history but I won’t be pooh-poohed when I raise my major concerns about the cost of this project because economic circumstances have changed since this project was first voiced.”

Cllr Deans asked if the “plug was pulled” on the museum project now with almost 500,000 already spent, what would the impact be on ratepayers?

He was informed that if the project was shelved, it would increase rates by around 4% next year.

Cllr Deans continued: “The project was first supposed to cost 1.5 million then it increased to 8 million then we lost funding and now we are back at a figure of 5 million.

“We are in economic difficulty and I propose that we delay the project until we investigate things further.

“The most recent figures from DCAL for all museums in Northern Ireland show that we are spending 16.5 million subsidising museums. That means every museum visitor is subsidised to the tune of 22.50 and every one of the population here pays 10 each to fund museums,” he said.

Cllr Deans then raised the issue of Mountsandel - the historical site which will be one of the central themes of the museum.

“Look at Mountsandel. It’s a disgrace. It’s being used as a drinking den. That is the live site that we are planning a 5 million museum around yet we can’t look after that historic site itself.”

He also asked exactly what would be displayed in the new museum? He said that as far as he was aware the exhibitions collected to date were being stored in a basement at the moment.

“Why are we building an air-conditioned museum for things that have been lying in a basement for three years?” he asked

He proposed that the conservation work on the Market Yard go ahead but that a freeze be put on a new Peace III funding bid until further discussions could take place.

David Bell, Council’s Director of Corporate Services, said that shelving the project would have a big impact on the rates next year but also added that if the project went ahead, in the long run there will also be an impact from the cost of running the museum e.g. loans, staff wages, heating, lighting etc

Alderman Toye Black said that she had been on Coleraine Council for almost 30 years and “everybody in the Chamber knows my feelings about a museum”.

“If we had done this years ago it would have cost only 1.5 million but we kept putting it off and putting off,” she said.

“We can’t keep postponing this all the time especially when you look at the amount of work the staff have done over the years. It is crucial that we go ahead now and get it done.

“I want to see a Coleraine museum before I die,” she said.

Cllr Adrian McQuillan asked would it be possible to park the discussion until “we get the figures back and look at the costs?” He also asked would it hinder the new Peace III bid?

Acting Director of Leisure Services, Peter Appleton, said that a month’s deferral would not necessarily impact upon the Peace III Bid.

Cllr Deans agreed to Cllr McQuillan’s amendment to his proposal so the issue will be discussed again next month.