Further public sector expansion into Ballykelly?

Comparisons have been drawn between what Fermanagh District Council is proposing to do with the site of the old Erne Hospital, and what Limavady could be doing with the former Shackleton army barracks.

Speaking at Stormont recently, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson praised the proposal by Fermanagh District Council for the creation of a ‘public sector hub’ to provide central services on the old Erne Hospital site.

DUP MP Gregory Campbell raised the prospect of Shackleton in Ballykelly being used in a similar way “in an attempt to draw together the various aspects of the public sector to the public good.”

He has since written to the Chief Executive of Limavady Borough Council for the idea to be considered by the Borough’s elected representatives.

Mr Robinson had said the proposals by Fermanagh District Council were a good idea: “The deputy First Minister and I were impressed with the council’s proposal. We felt that it was very sound and exactly the kind of development that we want to encourage.”

Local MP Gregory Campbell, during First Minister’s Question Time, raised the prospect of Shackleton being used in a similar way: “Having viewed what appears to be a successful public sector hub in Fermanagh, does the First Minister feel that similar exercises could be replicated in other parts of Northern Ireland in an attempt to draw together the various aspects of the public sector to the public good.”

First Minister Peter Robinson replied: “The proposal from Fermanagh is a very good template that could be used elsewhere in the Province. My guess is that the Member has a particular location and site in mind. On that site, a good many buildings are available without having to worry about decontamination issues, although some parts of the site may well have decontamination issues attached to them.

“However,it would not stop the other parts of the site being used. It would depend largely on the enthusiasm shown by the council, because the council’s involvement obviously has a financial consequence.”

Councillor’s in Limavady discussed Gregory Campbell’s correspondence during a meeting last night. Writing to the Council’s Chief Executive, Mr Liam Flanigan, Mr Campbell said: “I recently raised in the Northern Ireland Assembly during First Minister’s Questions the issue of ‘Public Sector Hubs’.

“While the initial question related to Fermanagh I alluded in my follow up question to the possibility of Ballykelly being used in a similar fashion.”

He added: “It took a considerable amount of effort behind the scenes to get the decision on the DARD HQ to Ballykelly so any additional usage of the site would obviously better utilise the entire site.”