Monthly Archives: February 2014

Exploris Update

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Latest from the Friends of Exploris :

Dear friends

It’s coming up to the next full Council meeting of Ards Borough Council this Wednesday evening 26 February.

We understand that Mark H Durkan, minister for the environment, has sent a letter to Ards Borough Council reiterating his support for the seal sanctuary within Exploris, which the Department of Environment has committed to funding. He and other ministers are continuing to examine ways to provide additional funding for renovations in Exploris that would bring it back up to world-class standard as an attraction. But there is obviously a process that has to be followed within the Executive so the final amount of support has not been decided.

The important point is that there is a process which is in train. Yet even now it is still possible that Ards Borough Council could, without further discussion, simply allow Exploris to be closed. The decision to “close and dispose” still stands.

Please join us on Wednesday evening to attend the public Council meeting. We want to show the Council that we are still here, and still concerned about Exploris, and we hope for some good news at the meeting on Wednesday.

Ards Borough Council, Newtownards
7pm
Wednesday 26 February

Best wishes,

Dr Julia Sigwart
Chair, Friends of Exploris Trust

Exploris Update

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From Friends of Exploris:

Dear friends

As you may have heard, Ards Borough Council decided last Wednesday to delay closure of Exploris by one more month, and to ask Executive departments in Stormont to financially support a new business plan for Exploris.

The new business plan for Exploris has been accepted and praised by the Council; however it is very dependent on capital funding for a major refurbishment, at an estimated cost of £900,000.

There is a lot of frustration that such funding has not yet been firmly committed, but on a positive note there have been supportive indications from the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and also the Department of Environment. (DOE has already committed to fund the costs of the seal sanctuary including refurbishment costs.) The business plan has only been submitted for consideration to those departments in mid-January.

It is important to bear in mind that the decision to “close and dispose” still stands, from September. So with no funding uk place by the end of February the Council could then begin to act on that and close Exploris.

The public support for Exploris has been crucial in this process, and your voices have been heard. Everyone now wants to see this finally resolved and a better future for our Exploris aquarium. The fate now lies in the hands of the Executive so please write to your own local MLA to express your support and to Minister Foster in DETI.

Best wishes,

Dr Julia Sigwart
Chair, Friends of Exploris Trust

To find your MLA – http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Your-MLAs/

Mrs Arlene Foster
Enterprise, Trade & Investment
Parliament Buildings,
Ballymiscaw,Stormont,
Belfast, BT4 3XX