Decision To Close Exploris Deferred

Councillors have voted to delay the closure of Northern Ireland's only aquarium for two months, in the hopes of funding being made available from government departments.

The decision was made by Ards Borough Council during a meeting on Wednesday night.

Last week, the Council's Development Committee said it would have to consider closing Exploris Aquarium after a take-over acquisition with a private firm collapsed earlier this month.

The decision has now been deferred.

The local authority has been looking for a private investor for the facility in a bid to reduce the £600,000 financial cost to the ratepayer. However, the company which was to manage the facility, Livingstone Leisure, withdrew from the process, after confirming that it was unable to agree on a comparable pension scheme required for staff.

The aquarium has been owned and managed by Ards Borough Council since 1987. In 1999, its seal sanctuary, which provides for the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, orphaned and injured seal pups, was opened.

In a statement from the Council, it explained: "Ards Borough Council has agreed unanimously to defer the closure of Exploris, the aquarium and seal sanctuary in Portaferry.

"It was agreed that the closure would be stayed for two months, to allow for firm proposals for alternative funding to come from central government departments - Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), Environment (DoE) and Education (DE)."

Councillor Philip Smith, Deputy Mayor of Ards, said: "While there has never been any indication of a subvention for Exploris from central government, there does now appear to be a possibility that funding could be made available.

"Our decision allows time for that option to be explored. However, we do have to emphasise that the decision to close still stands if external funding is not forthcoming".

(JP/CD)