STEAMED UP

DUP representative David McAllister has succeeded in getting the support of Moyle Council who have asked for the Environment Minister Edwin Poots to look at the matter as planners are currently of the opinion to refuse the scheme.

Earlier this year the Causeway & Bushmills Railway Company brought in new rolling stock which are exact replicas of what the tram looked like when it was hailed as the world’s first hydro-electric powered tram way in 1883.

The railway closed in 1949 but was re-opened as a tourist attraction in 2002 and the current plans involve the Bushmills side of the railway at the Ballaghmore Road.

The plan is for the proposed railway halt to include commercial facilities, a cafe, ticket office, toilets, office and kitchen spaces and two apartments above and a track extension closer to Bushmills.

Planners have listed several refusal reasons including the impact they say it would have on the Giant’s Causeway World Heritage Site and say it is in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Planners further say the new buildings will not integrate into the landscape and “mar” the distinction between the defined settlement limit of Bushmills and the surrounding countryside.

Planners also say the proposal fails to demonstrate satisfactory access and parking arrangements and say part of the site is within a flood plain.

There were two objection letters lodged with planners and Planning Officer Julie McMath said in the submissions reference was made to air pollution from trains, noise and the impact any new facility would have on businesses in Bushmills village centre.

Councillor McAllister said the railway was re-opened in 2002 and said over 250,000 was invested in the summer by the charity which runs the railway to replicate the old Causeway tram from the 1880s.

Councillor McAllister said 80 per cent of the revenue for the tram line is generated at the Bushmills end of the track but yet facilities are lacking there.

The councillor added: “It is a very important tourist attraction and there is an exact replica of the hydro-electric tram from the 1880s. We should ask the Minister what he thinks as it is so important for Bushmills.”

Cllr McAllister wondered how planners could have concerns about the proposal when there is an “atrocious looking building” nearby used by Northern Ireland Water for which, he claimed, there was never an impact assessment asked for by planners.

The councillor succeeded in getting support from Moyle Council to ask Minister Poots to review the case.

Councillor McAllister gave the Ballymoney & Moyle Times a copy of a submission prepared for planners by the railway company which said a planning application was lodged with Planning Service in July 2009 seeking to ‘extend the existing railway line/track closer to Bushmills village centre, provide additional car parking together with construction of a new railway terminus building comprising toilets, ticket office, shop and cafe as well as two residential dwelling units on the first floor to be offered for sale in order that a financial contribution be made to the company which is a registered charity to offset the extensive costs of the project estimated to be circa 500,000.’

The railway submission said that since operating from 2002 the company ‘immediately encountered financial difficulties resulting in it becoming insolvent during 2004/05.’

It said prominent local businessman, Seymour Sweeney, was ‘prevailed upon by a series of individuals and organisations to step in and save the business and it was perceived to be an important and valued tourism asset to Northern Ireland and where significant grant aid funding had been paid by central government.’

The company’s statement added: ‘Although the business had amassed considerable debt, Seymour Sweeney nonetheless bought the debt from the bank and set about reorganising the railway in order that it be run on a sound commercial footing. From losing in excess of 100,000 per annum in June 2005 when the railway was saved from liquidation it is now operating at a modest profit. Since June 2005 the operation has secured the future of some 10 full and part time jobs, maintained the existing track and railway bridge which are owned outright together with the heritage steam locomotives and in July 2010 purchased, with the assistance of Tourist Board grant assistance, a brand new diesel powered locomotive and rolling stock costing circa 250,000, replicating in every detail the former hydro-electric tramway of the 1880s to further underpin the sustainability of the operation for the forthcoming years.

‘The purchase of a new diesel powered locomotive and rolling stock was phase one part of the company’s long term plan for economic survival where phase two required the extension of the railway track and construction of a new terminus building both at the Bushmills end, which is now proposed via the current planning application.’

The company added: ‘It must be clear to all that a railway needs a start and end point and on the basis that some 80 percent of ticket revenues are generated at the Bushmills end it is quite clear there is a need for proper accommodation at Bushmills for both customers, staff and tourists.’

The company says the new scheme could create a further six jobs and say “considerable money has already been expended through the purchase of the area of land to the south of the existing railway halt in order that the line and proposed building would be both visible and closer to Bushmills village centre’.

The company said planners should have declared the scheme a ‘Special Project” which would have qualified it for examination at planning headquarters within six months rather than through Coleraine where over 15 months have now passed.

With that in mind the company was seeking the Council’s support to have the application referred to the Minister.