Move DARD HQ to Shackleton – Robinson

Mr Robinson made the call after the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister announced last Thursday that her department would relocate it's head office to a rural location under new budget plans. The DUP assembly member said Ballykelly's former barracks would be a prime location for the new rural HQ and would show faith in the north west.

Mr Robinson said: "Yesterday (Thurs 13th Jan 2011) the D.A.R.D. Minister announced her budget plans for the Department which included plans to move the headquarters into a rural location. East Londonderry constituency has a large rural population and agri-sector, has good road and public transport links and even has an airport so is the ideal location.

"I have been calling for projects to utilise the site when it is handed back to the Executive, and what better way of showing faith in the North West than to move a government departments HQ onto it. This would be a great start to the regeneration of the site and, I believe, would be an important factor in gaining further business and leisure firms for the location."

"The East Londonderry constituency, and Limavady in particular, have been very badly hit with the loss of employment and a government department would be the ideal way of giving hope for the entire area for the future" said Mr Robinson. The DUP representative is now set to write to write to the Minister in a bid to strengthen the Shackleton case for the relocation.

The MLA added: The reductions are part of the department's draft budget which aims to save 43m over the next four years.

"The Executive and D.A.R.D. could follow the recommendations in the Bain report with regard to decentralising jobs to the rural areas and show the faith the people here deserve by locating D.A.R.D. HQ at the Shackleton site.

"I am writing to the Minister to make my case for Limavady and certainly hope that I will receive the support of the entire council with this proposal. It is a necessity that there is unanimous support to strengthen our case.

"Everyone who has a genuine interest in starting to rebuild the local economy must see the boost such a move would have in beginning the job of rebuilding and I would urge them to get behind my call" concluded Mr Robinson.

A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development would not be drawn on location sbeing considered for the move.

He said: "The precise details about location and configuration of DARD's new headquarters have yet to be determined. The project will be subject to the Executive's usual requirements in respect of business cases and procurement."