'Fear in the community' over Fire Station funding

He has now asked Moyle Council to write to the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) to ask if they could send a representative to a future meeting at Sheskburn House in Ballycastle.

In a letter to the Council the Fire Service said they are developing a Business Case regarding the provision of a new Fire Station in Cushendall which will be submitted to the Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety for consultation later this year.

The letter said: 'After approval to proceed is granted by the Department, NIFRS will have to bid for the necessary funding to undertake the project.

'As you will appreciate in the light of the predicted spending cuts it is very difficult for us to say with any certainty when funding will be available.

'Please be assured that Cushendall Fire station remains on our priority replacement schedule and NIFRS will continue to work closely with the Department to secure the new premises in this location,' the Fire Service's Capital Projects Manager Sean Fitzsimons said in the letter.

Cllr McMullan said that whilst the letter does answer some questions it also raises others.

He said the letter indicates the Fire Service has to go out and get the money for Cushendall Fire Station and he said the situation is "putting a lot of fear in the community" that the Fire Station may not be "prioritised".

He said he would like to know where the Fire Service is supposed to be getting the money from.

Cllr McMullan said Cushendall Fire Station was built as a 'temporary' Fire Station and had remained that way and was never made a 'permanent' building.