Growth deal pause 'economically catastrophic' for Causeway Coast and Glens say councillors

At a Leisure and Development Committee meeting on Tuesday, September 17, Director of Leisure and Development, Pat Mulvenna, confirmed that all council’s plans for the Growth Deal – which include a new leisure centre in Coleraine and the regeneration of Dungiven town centre – were now on hold, following Labour’s decision to pause its commitment to the deal on Friday.

Ms Mulvenna said: “Obviously we’re working very closely with the Department of Finance and the Northern Ireland Executive to try and have this decision reversed.

“That came very quickly for both the Belfast and the Derry City Deals and we wish to ensure that the same decision is taken for the remaining Growth Deals. We are seeking face-to-face meetings with the powers-that-be to try and encourage this decision to be overturned.”

Alliance Councillor Peter McCully said the decision, and the Government’s handling of the announcement, had left him “dismayed and angered”.

He said: “That anger increased 12 hours later whenever they U-turned on the Belfast City and Derry and Strabane City Deals.

“We will feel the benefit of those, but the real source of contention for this council should be the lack of rationale between why those deals are continuing and Causeway Coast and Glens’ isn’t”.

“I was speaking to a council officer on Friday afternoon and the term ‘economically catastrophic’ was used. I’m sure that we all agree with that assessment.”

DUP Alderman John McAuley said it was “just sad” to see Labour renege on the Growth Deal just six months after it was signed.

“Their pre-election rhetoric’s just been exposed as being a myth,” he said.“I’m not sure how the other two councils managed to get theirs overturned so quickly, and the sceptic in me would say there’s a deal [going] on there, but time will tell if they manage to come out and provide the other councils with the same support.”

DUP Alderman Sharon McKillop said she couldn’t understand why the Government would “prevent anything that would bring economic and social benefits to our local people”.