Film studio suggested for Shackleton

Unionist MLAs attacked Sinn Fin and the SDLP as either hostile to the development of a police college at the 70-year-old RAF base or as "johnny-come-latelys" on the issue.

Former UUP MLA David McClarty, who last weekend quit the party, said there was no room for party politicking over the base which he claimed had the potential to bring hundreds of jobs to the Roe Valley area.

East Londonderry SDLP MLA John Dallat managed to secure the debate which was selected as a topic for discussion by the Stormont Business Committee.

Amongst the imaginative suggestions for the historic site were a jobs-boosting police college, call centre, hotel, small business complex and HBO-style film studio in one of the RAF hangars.

DUP MLA George Robinson slammed Sinn Fin and the SDLP for shooting down a proposal to situate a new policing college for Northern Ireland at Ballykelly that he had put before Limavady Borough Council.

But he vowed to continue to lobby for the location of such a training college in the County Londonderry town.

He told the Assembly: "Despite the setback at council, I have continued to lobby for the police college to be located there. Most recently, in October 2010, I wrote to the First Minister in that regard.

"Although I now accept that that might not happen, I have also called for a carefully thought out approach to the site's development.

"Whether that is as a business park, a centre for developing small and medium-sized businesses, a leisure facility or for a mixture of uses, it is essential and imperative that it creates employment opportunities for the north-west and Limavady, in particular, which has suffered disproportionately in recent years from massive job losses."

He said that in light of the devastation of the Limavady area's manufacturing base over the past number of years - epitomised by the disastrous 2008 when Seagate and Huco shut up shop leaving hundreds unemployed - Shackleton Barracks must be viewed as a cornerstone for the employment and economic future of the area.

He commented: "Finally, I welcome the opportunity to discuss Shackleton Barracks. Although Mr Dallat and his party are johnny-come-latelys to the issue,

"I hope that all parties will join in my desire to have the site used to the benefit of Limavady and the greater East Londonderry community at the earliest opportunity."

David McClarty agreed that the former Shackleton Army base was an asset for the North West, particularly the Limavady Borough Council area.

He referred to its important heritage as a pivotal military base for almost 70 years.

"Apart from the important role that it had to play during the early 1940s, the base has become synonymous as the home of the 5th battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment," he said.

"It provided much employment and contributed hugely to the local economy for many years. Therefore many people throughout County Londonderry have had a personal connection to the base and continue to do so to this day," he added.

He outlined a number of proposals including a budget hotel, a film studio, a call centre and - like Mr Robinson - a number of small business units.

"It is easy to stand up and talk about the need for something to happen with the site, but it is often easier to forget to mention any specific proposals.

"I have a few suggestions. When Limavady Borough Council and the enterprise agency recently made available a number of units for small office accommodation, they had expected them to be taken up within a 36-month period, but all were taken up within 18 months. Perhaps that is something that could be developed at the site."

Mr McClarty also suggested a vacant aircraft hangar could be developed in the same manner as the Paint Hall at Belfast's Titanic Quarter potentially luring major US production companies like HBO to the Roe Valley.

"Presently, HBO is filming a blockbuster television series in the Paint Hall, which will mean an input of about 20 million to the local economy.

"The hangar has similar potential. Given the size of the site at Ballykelly, there is ample room for several economic developments."