Belfast News: Castlereagh Council's Plane Truth

Many councils get criticised for wasting or misusing public money, for living the life of Riley and for even providing expensive company / council cars but no other Northern Ireland council to our knowledge has purchased itself a plane and not just a plane, but a non-functional plane.

Hearing of this story, Simply Belfast thought we'd ask the questions, you'd like answered, we asked:

1: The name of the project (including company name, if a company name for the project was registered
Answer: A proposed flight experience centre at Dundonald International Ice Bowl

2. The type of aircraft and total cost?
Answer: Jet Provost Aircraft - £3.5K

3. The annual upkeep costs, including insurance, since date purchased?
Answer: Donation to Ulster Aviation Society of £500 per annum for housing and upkeep.

4. The brief and scope of the Business Venture, including details of why the scheme was dropped?
Answer: Lack of funding

5. It is reported that the aircraft was stored for many years at Castlereagh Golf Club, is this correct, if so please provide dates, if not, please confirm where the aircraft was stored?
Answer: It was stored in Hamilton’s Shed at former Gilnahirk Golf Club.

6. It is also reported that the aircraft is currently on loan, but still owned by Castlereagh Council, please disclose who has custody of the aircraft, as of today's date?
Answer: Ulster Aviation Society

7. Please disclose the total amount of money spent on this project, from it conception to present day, please include all consultancy, delivery, maintenance and other costs?
Answer: We were unable to find information to answer this question.

Editorial

Well, you can't knock a Council for wanting to provide another leisure attraction, can you? Castlereagh Council emphasise that they have paid for the ' frame of aircraft only' it has ' no engine' and is ' not functional', so it is questionable if you can really have flight experience in the shell of a plane. 

Castlereagh Council appear to have put the cart before the horse, buying the shell of a plane, without ensuring the feasibility of the project or having secured in advance the monies to realise the project and that is something Castlereagh's rate payers should be concerned about. 

The Council in their response to our questions have indicated that they have spent thousands on the shell and upkeep but have been less forthcoming to their response to question 7 regarding the total amount spent, indicating that they are unable to find information to answer this question. Did Castlereagh spend a penny more on this project or millions more, we simply don't know, but there answer to question 7 would indicate a clear lack of fiscal and organisational control, if you can't find the information to answer questions surrounding the roll out of a business venture.  

Last Updated: January 2012