Saturday 18 December 2010

Celebrating Ballycastle's Industrial Heritage

Reclaiming Colliery Road?

[click image to enlarge]

This postcard clearly shows Colliery Road, an accommodation road, continuing on past Coalyard/Old Saltpans Cottage. The cottage is in the centre of the card; it overlooks one of the four or more saltworks on this short stretch of the north Antrim coast. One of the other saltworks is at Carrickmore, further along the road towards the distant Fair Head.

Perhaps it's time Moyle District Council and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency reviewed the status of this old road in the Ballycastle Coalfields Area of Special Scientific Interest. It's a very popular route for walkers and the saltworks might well feature in the proposed Atlantic Salt Trail.

NIEA: Our aim is to protect, conserve and promote the natural environment and built heritage for the benefit of present and future generations.

Our vision is that we will have a healthy and well protected environment and heritage in Northern Ireland which contributes to the social and economic wellbeing of the whole community.