This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35469639
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Stormont to sell off its nuclear bunker in Ballymena | Stormont to sell off its nuclear bunker in Ballymena |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Stormont's leaders are selling off their nuclear bunker in County Antrim. | Stormont's leaders are selling off their nuclear bunker in County Antrim. |
| The "unique" underground shelter stands in Woodside Road industrial estate on the outskirts of Ballymena and can house up to 235 people. | The "unique" underground shelter stands in Woodside Road industrial estate on the outskirts of Ballymena and can house up to 235 people. |
| It was commissioned by the government during the latter stages of the Cold War and construction began in 1987. | It was commissioned by the government during the latter stages of the Cold War and construction began in 1987. |
| It contains dormitories, kitchen facilities, decontamination chambers and has been kept in a "fit and ready state" for emergencies since 1990. | It contains dormitories, kitchen facilities, decontamination chambers and has been kept in a "fit and ready state" for emergencies since 1990. |
| 'Peril' | 'Peril' |
| The bunker is currently in the ownership of the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers (OFMDFM), which hopes to raise about £575,000 from the sale of the 3.74 acre site. | The bunker is currently in the ownership of the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers (OFMDFM), which hopes to raise about £575,000 from the sale of the 3.74 acre site. |
| BBC Northern Ireland reported the existence of the nuclear bunker in 2007, after submitting a Freedom of Information request. | |
| The following year, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) questioned Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness about an alleged list of people "to be taken there in a moment of peril". | The following year, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) questioned Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness about an alleged list of people "to be taken there in a moment of peril". |
| Mr McGuinness replied that he knew nothing of the bunker and hoped he was not on the list. | |
| The then Environment Minister Arlene Foster, who has since become first minister of Northern Ireland, joked at the time that she had not granted it planning permission. | |
| 'Technically advanced' | |
| It was one of almost 1,600 nuclear monitoring posts built across the UK since 1955. | |
| The property agent, Lambert Smith Hampton, said the Ballymena bunker was "believed to be one of the last and most technically advanced buildings of its kind ever built in the UK". | |
| It has "interlocking double blast doors", a BBC audio visual broadcasting facility, bathrooms, conference rooms and storage facilities. | It has "interlocking double blast doors", a BBC audio visual broadcasting facility, bathrooms, conference rooms and storage facilities. |
| The firm's surveyor, Andrew Fraser, described it as a "one of a kind property". | The firm's surveyor, Andrew Fraser, described it as a "one of a kind property". |
| "This is an extremely rare listing and offers a unique opportunity for potential buyers," he said. | "This is an extremely rare listing and offers a unique opportunity for potential buyers," he said. |
| The agents suggested it could be used for tourism, media or storage purposes. | The agents suggested it could be used for tourism, media or storage purposes. |