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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Trust gets causeway site control | Trust gets causeway site control |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The National Trust is to get control over the current visitors' centre and car park at the Giant's Causeway. | The National Trust is to get control over the current visitors' centre and car park at the Giant's Causeway. |
| This would give it total control of the site, a major development over the controversial plans for a new centre. | This would give it total control of the site, a major development over the controversial plans for a new centre. |
| The BBC has learned that Moyle Council, which owns the centre and the car park, are to lease it to the Trust. | |
| The centre had been the focus of a tug-of-war between the council, two government departments, the National Trust and a private developer. | The centre had been the focus of a tug-of-war between the council, two government departments, the National Trust and a private developer. |
| Temporary buildings were put in place in 2000 when the previous centre burnt down. | Temporary buildings were put in place in 2000 when the previous centre burnt down. |
| A seven year wrangle then developed over what should ultimately replace these and who should build and run them. | A seven year wrangle then developed over what should ultimately replace these and who should build and run them. |
| A local developer, Seymour Sweeney, lodged plans in 2001 for a large alternative centre to be built nearby. | A local developer, Seymour Sweeney, lodged plans in 2001 for a large alternative centre to be built nearby. |
| But his proposals were shelved by the planners. | But his proposals were shelved by the planners. |
| Then in September, the Environment Minister Arlene Foster said that she was "minded" to approve Mr Sweeny's plans in lieu of any other option. | Then in September, the Environment Minister Arlene Foster said that she was "minded" to approve Mr Sweeny's plans in lieu of any other option. |
| An alternative scheme devised by the Department of Trade and Investment along with Moyle Council and the National Trust was immediately stopped by the DETI minister, Nigel Dodds. | An alternative scheme devised by the Department of Trade and Investment along with Moyle Council and the National Trust was immediately stopped by the DETI minister, Nigel Dodds. |
| Mr Sweeney then approached Moyle Council offering them compensation if they cleared the existing buildings and car park away. | Mr Sweeney then approached Moyle Council offering them compensation if they cleared the existing buildings and car park away. |
| This would leave the way open in anticipation of his scheme being passed. | This would leave the way open in anticipation of his scheme being passed. |
| But the council seems to have replied to Mr Sweeney by planning to hand the control of the area over to the National Trust instead. | But the council seems to have replied to Mr Sweeney by planning to hand the control of the area over to the National Trust instead. |
| The Trust is to meet with Mr Dodds in a few days time to explain what they propose to do next. | The Trust is to meet with Mr Dodds in a few days time to explain what they propose to do next. |
| Both they and Moyle Council have declined to comment on this new development in the meantime. | Both they and Moyle Council have declined to comment on this new development in the meantime. |
| Mr Sweeney is awaiting confirmation of any leasing arrangements before making a statement. | Mr Sweeney is awaiting confirmation of any leasing arrangements before making a statement. |