MOYLE District Council's visitor services building at Ballycastle harbour is undergoing a major transformation as part of a £7.4 million marine tourism project encompassing the coastlines of Northern Ireland, north of Belfast Lough, Counties Sligo and Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and a large part of the West Coast of Scotland.

The Council is one of over 20 partners involved in the Sail West Initiative that will develop a range of highly developed boating, angling and marine tourism related infrastructure and activities, and ultimately impact on the number of tourist visitors visiting the partners regions. The initiative is part financed by the European Union's Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA Cross-border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

695,975 has been allocated towards the Ballycastle element of the initiative which will see the demolition of the existing bungalow at the harbour which has serviced as the Marina building since the Marina opened in 1999. A new purpose built facility will be constructed which will provide visitors with modern, state of the art facilities which visitors come to expect when visiting marinas.

The new building will provide modern toilet, shower, kitchen and laundry facilities as well as for internet access. The Harbourmaster's office and meeting facilities will also be accommodated within the new building.

Aidan McPeake, Head of Technical Services at Moyle District Council explained that 'the Council's Development and Technical Services departments have been working on the joint Sail West project for several years, and we are delighted that the Ballycastle project has been successful in securing funding.

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