Bush Telegraph Web Nov 2017

2020 Village Plan
Traffic & Transport Survey
At a meeting on 10 th October consultants engaged by CC&G B Council
reported to Councillors (mostly Causeway Ward), Council Officers, Tourist
Board and local community representatives on the conclusions of the North
Coast Traffic & Parking Survey and specifically how this might affect Bushmills.
The overall concept was for a transport plan from Portstewart to Ballycastle with
a hop on hop off service linking all attractions, towns and villages in between.
Tim Robinson of AECOM advised that for Bushmills a number of sites, both in
public and private ownership, were considered for developing parking and park &
ride facilities. All sites identified were ‘subject to scoring according to individual
criterion’ including Accessibility to major traffic routes and walk time to Bushmills;
Costs, both development and operational and planning approval likelihood.
It was noted that Bushmills was right in the centre of the Portstewart to
Ballycastle Transport Plan, accessible to Game of Throne sites and with the
Distillery and the Giant’s Causeway on its own doorstep.
The survey concluded that the best location for development is the existing
Dundarave site. This endorsed the proposal in the Village Plan agreed after
extensive Community engagements by consultants Venture i and supported
by the Steering Group but with the important proviso - any development to
include relocation of the current football pitch and replacement by a 3 or 4 G
pitch with supporting facilities on the Dunluce School Campus adjacent to the
Community Centre. Development of the Dundarave site must include a Multi
Use Games Area, recreational facilities, upgraded play area and a dedicated
bonfire site.
Multi Use Games Area
Development of an
‘Arrival Hub’
Park-Hood
Landscape Architects
“The Arrival Hub would be at a
level of finish and presentation
to complement internationally
recognised visitor attractions”
“Replace the relocated
Football Pitch with
a floodlit Multi Use
Games Area (MUGA)
and upgrade the
children’s play area."
The Village
Plan
proposal
separates
vehicular
access.
“integrating the Bonfire site into
the urban architecture of the village
would contribute to the overall
presentation of the village and the
sense of arrival for visitors.”
Dundarave
estate
and the
Arrival hub
both have
their own
entrance.
Short term high season arrangements.
The completion of the Traffic Survey is welcome news. We know the high season traffic and parking chaos in
Bushmills, affecting both residents and businesses, is getting worse year on year so obviously the Steering Group
were anxious to advance the remedial action detailed in the Village Plan and were disappointed with the lack of
activity since Council took direct responsibility for advancing the physical aspects of the Plan.
Obviously development of the arrival hub will take time, and both the Steering Group, BREF and the National Trust
took the opportunity at the Traffic Survey meeting to stress the importance of having in place effective high season
overflow facilities well in advance of next year’s high season. There is a need not only to have adequate overflow
parking sites but critically important - sites need to be clearly signposted well before arrival at their entrance.

Priority Bushmills
Officially Bushmills is No. 9 in the Borough’s order of priorities for Capital projects. The order is agreed by
Council and as Council Officers were using priorities to justify the delay in advancing the Village Plan the Steering
Group prepared a report justifying why Bushmills should be a priority at least on a par with the 2019 Open
Championship in Portrush.
The report led on the need to solve the chronic high season parking
problems in the village, the Causeway and the North Coast generally
but also highlighted the lack of any decent community facilities and how
implementing the Village Plan, in particular a Multi Use Games Area,
would help bring village community facilities more in line with other
more advantaged towns and villages.
To date The Steering Group have made presentations to Councillors,
The Chronicle,
August 24,
2017
Exert from -
BUSHMILLS
- A SPECIAL
FEATURE
Village Plan
Update
It’s ironic but with so little advanced on implementing at least the
physical elements of the current Village Plan that we are about to start
a Village Plan update. It’s a prerequisite before a Grant requested
by The Bushmills Trust under the Village Renewal Scheme can be
released. Perhaps the delay in implementing the current Village Plan
may prove beneficial as there could be improvements on the original
concepts. Initial consultation was planned for October and it will
be interesting to see how the consultation process can link to the
consultation process on Bushmills branding / regeneration.
both on an individual basis and with small groups, and have been very
encouraged by their support. BREF & BCYPS have been following up
directly with Councillors on the Village Plan and generally on issues
impacting on the community. Recent site visits include Councillor’s
George Duddy & Mark Fielding; Maurice Bradley MLA and Council’s CEO
David Jackson. Alderman Maura Hickey on her recent visit took a copy
of the Steering Group’s report justifying Bushmills being top priority and
released it to the Press - see article by Peter Winter.
There is a walk-about planned in late October for all Councillors from the
Causeway Coast & Glens ward. The Arrival Hub development with all
the related recreational activities will be very much part of the Agenda.
In November the Steering Group will be making a presentation to
Council’s Leisure & Development Committee on the Bushmills 2020
Village Plan, the need to prioritise and we will be taking the opportunity
to stress the importance of a short term fix for the high season parking
and traffic problems in Bushmills.
Bushmills Re-generation/Branding
Council have certainly been active with the second part of the 2020
Vision for Bushmills - “to be a sought after destination in its own right”.
We reported in February that Council have involved the Northern
Ireland Tourist Board who appreciate the potential for the Village, its
key location and the desirability of public sector financial support.
The first meeting, instigated by Council, was on 27 th February at the Distillery
with senior representatives from CC&G B Council, Bushmills Distillery, National
Trust, Tourism NI, Ulster University, Bushmills 2020 Steering Group and business
interests. The meeting concluded that ‘Bushmills the Destination’ could take
marketing advantage from ‘Bushmills the Whiskey’, as Bushmills whiskey is
already well established world wide as a quality brand. Colum Egan, on behalf
of the Distillery, was happy to support the concept. Another key conclusion
was the need to involve the Bushmills community in the process.
The August meeting at the Bushmills Mill Rest Hostel broadened out those
attending with the Community Association and BREF both invited. ASG &
Partners, Council’s Marketing consultants, discussed branding concepts
and established current perceptions of Bushmills within the group and the
opportunities for advancement.
The October meeting, part of the Traffic Survey meeting, also included
Councillors (mostly from the Causeway Ward) and senior Council Officers. ASG
highlighted the unique location and many strengths of the village and presented
2 suggestions for developing a possible logo and type-style. The intention
for this group is to meet every 3 months to monitor and advance progress
and representing the 2020 Steering Group (and their own organisations) are
Leanne Abernethy, Roy Bolton, Derwyn Brewster, Bob Hedley & Jayne Taggart.
BUSHMILLS 2020 Village Plan Steering Group
Roy Bolton, Chair
Derwyn Brewster & Bob Hedley, Joint Vice Chair
Alan Summers, Secretary
Leanne Abernethy
Winston Boyce
Lynne Bryce
Jayne Taggart
Art Ward

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