SLIDESHOW - MEP visits north coast

His first visit was to a site meeting with Colin Newell and Barney McGuckian at the expanding site of the Ballyboyland Biomass drying mill to discuss some planning concerns.

Next stop was Dunluce Castle which Mr Nicholson had visited last year to discuss plans for a new visitor centre with Sean McKinley.

He returned this year with Cllrs Sandra Hunter and Joan Baird and Robin Swann MLA to discuss any further outstanding issues concerning parking at the centre.

The next topic for discussion was the planned statue to commemorate Robert Quigg VC.

Mr Nicholson met Keith Beattie following an update discussion on the Robert Quigg VC Commemoration Society and their upcoming fundraising events. Jim was very impressed by the group’s new comic strip outlining Robert Quigg VC’s story which tells the amazing story of Robert Quigg VC in a format that is easily understood by all ages. For more information visit - http://www.robertquiggvc.com/

The MEP then took a brief tour of Bushmills distillery with Colm Egan, master distiller and Niall Mehaffrey, where they were greatly impressed by the distillery’s plans for expansion and investment in the local area.

An open meeting was also held with local sheep and beef farmers to voice their concerns surrounding the current financial state of agriculture and poor returns.

Points raised and discussed at the meeting in the Marine Hotel in Ballycastle included the differential in price of lambs & cattle in NI compared with those in Great Britain, labelling as well as poor support from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.