Confusion reigns
Deal unchanged but no official word from Westminster, says Minister
By Iain Gray
AN ‘ILL-JUDGED’ Westminster decision to halt funding for Bangor’s £60m Waterfront overhaul could sap confidence in the city.
That’s the fear being raised by local politicians this week, after the Labour government announced it was going to pause cash for massive projects in Northern Ireland – including the Belfast City Region Deal, which is supposed to cover two-thirds of the cost of reworking a two-mile stretch of Bangor’s coast.
Despite assurances from Stormont Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald that the Belfast City Deal is still on, there hasn’t been any official confirmation of that from Westminster.
And even Ms Archibald admitted there’s a lack of firm information about the money.
Despite initially telling Stormont on Monday that ‘nothing has changed on the status’ of the Belfast City Deal, when quizzed by North Down MLA Connie Egan that same day she admitted that she hasn’t had any formal word from the government and ‘needs to get clarity’ about it.
“The communication from the Secretary of State [Hilary Benn] is that the status of the Belfast Region City Deal is unchanged,” said the Minister. “That is the extent of the communication that I have had.
“We need to get clarity on all those matters, and I am still waiting for that formal communication to set out the exact status of each of the city and growth deals.”
Ards and North Down Council, which is running Bangor’s £60m Waterfront scheme, pointed to the Minister’s initial statement as proof that everything is fine.
A council spokeswoman said that legally binding contracts for the money were signed in January of last year, adding: “Work continues apace on the exciting Bangor Waterfront regeneration plans which will transform the long-term economic growth of our city, as well as enhancing the quality of life for the people who live, work, study, do business and invest here, now and in the years to come.”
The spokeswoman told the Spectator that she can’t promise there will be no delays to the scheme, stating ‘no one can guarantee that in any construction project’, though she added that ‘two milestones’ have already been met by appointing information and communications specialists.
For Connie Egan, the confusion of the last few days can be blamed on ‘short-sightedness and lack of consideration’ on the part of the UK Treasury.
“This was a significant act of bad faith,” she said, adding: “I was pleased to hear there has been verbal confirmation that [Bangor Waterfront] will still go on undisrupted, but we will continue to place pressure to ensure our local investment is protected.”
Fellow North Down Alliance MLA, Andrew Muir, said there’s palpable anger over the funding pause, stating: “Formal confirmation that Belfast City Region Deal is no longer under threat must be given in writing without delay.”
And Alliance councillor Chris McCracken, who represents the district due to be regenerated by the Waterfront scheme, feared the pause could knock confidence in Bangor at a time when politicians are trying to lure investors into the city.
“This ill-judged announcement has only served to damage confidence rather than build it,” he said.
“The Secretary of State should come to Bangor to see the Waterfront for himself, speak to our local community and generate greater assurance for this project at this critical point moving forward..”
North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne had similar worries, feeling that any uncertainty could impose ‘additional costs for various stakeholders who have already spent substantial sums of money in preparation for the Waterfront development’.
“It is deeply disappointing that this funding was in jeopardy in the first place, and the UK government needs to provide clarity on its future plans for all growth deals,” he added.
