Reassurances have been made that public access will remain at Necarne, while it has been revealed that the cost of securing the Castle will be over £400,000.
A well attended public meeting held in Irvinestown last Thursday night heard Gardrum Holdings Ltd outline proposals to invest in a leisure destination, comprising of a holiday retreat with a range of outdoor activities, enhanced walkways and cycle paths and events space developed over a phased basis.
The medium and long-term proposals are still subject to planning approval.
Detailed designs and plans were on display showcasing a planned transformation of the estate which was developed in the 1990s into a multi-million pound equestrian centre but in recent years has been lying empty and largely unused.
The meeting heard that the ‘scope for re-development of the Castle was constrained by its layout and listed building status.’
A spokesman for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said, “The Council outlined its intention as part of current processes, in the short term to stabilise the structure and in the long term, to seek to promote opportunities for refurbishment and future development by including the Castle in the lease arrangements currently under negotiation.
“Those present were advised that the cost to remove vegetation and to stabilise the structure, will be over £400,000 and currently there is no grant available to the Council to assist with financing.”
One of the major issues surrounding Necarne has been public access to the surrounding grounds, but the Gardrum representative ‘gave a firm commitment that existing use would be accommodated and stated that public access to the Estate would remain, with plans to re-open the Enniskillen Road access and improve walkways and trails.’
Paul Cassidy, a member of Irvinestown Community Partnership said that the ‘general overall feeling was pretty positive.’
“It is at the early stages, but I think everybody agreed what they are purposing to do with Necarne is what everyone would want to happen – the equestrian element, the tourism element and the outdoor activity based element.,” Mr Cassidy said.
“The major aspect is that it will remain open for the public to enjoy and as long as that is maintained, everyone would be delighted to see it utilised.”
There were concerns and objections raised by representatives of the Saving Necarne Campaign who believe the best option ‘is through establishing a social enterprise, which would reinvest the income from events back into saving the Castle and meeting community needs.’
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