Conservatives in Northern Ireland welcome the confirmation of new money for full renovation of Exploris. It is most welcome to hear that a private sector operating company has been appointed to run the facility.
Johnny Andrews, spokesperson for NI Conservatives, says ’For too long this facility and Portaferry town have been neglected by successive Ards councils. Buildings are run down, footpaths are in disrepair and there is little business activity to provide the town with a basic minimum level of business and services . We have seen many councillors too involved in process and running up huge legal and consultancy fees while not having the commerciality or marketing know- how to run the facility. The long delay in reopening Exploris ,the hotel closure and general lack of private sector activity in the peninsula is now so serious that there are few employment prospects for the youth in Portaferry and its surrounding area.’
This renovation is long overdue and it is encouraging that the new council is adopting a more commercial approach and bringing in a private sector company as the operator.
Exploris needs new marketing ideas and commerciality offered by a private sector operator to drive up visitor numbers.
Andrews calls on the new Ards and North Down Council supporting the operating company to meet the visitor numbers in the projections, which former Finance minister Simon Hamilton said were challenging. The Conservatives call on the council and the Executive to assist in provision of better transport facilities round the Lough or at least down the peninsula in the form of jump on jump off shuttle bus service from Newtownards. If this was successful it could be later extended to encompass the ferry crossing enabling visitors to go all the way round the Lough and thus able to stop off at their leisure at the various villages, National Trust properties and other attractions.