Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has received a planning application to place a permanent Royal Air Force commemorative plinth at Portballintrae, close to the site where an RAF Vickers Wellington aircraft, DV664, crashed on 28 November 1943.
What is proposed
The applicant, the Bushmills Through the Wars Committee, seeks permission to install a polished granite plinth with engraved tablets on an existing concrete platform adjacent to the public pedestrian route that links Salmon Rock Beach Car Park, Three Quarter Bridge and Runkerry Beach. The platform is the former base of a Cold War submarine indicator loop substation; the proposal uses this existing feature to locate the commemorative element.
“The memorial will enable relatives, local residents, visitors and future generations to reflect upon the sacrifice of those who lost their lives and improve public awareness of the site’s historical significance.”
Background and council process
Plans follow endorsement from the council’s Leisure and Development Committee in February, when members approved and supported submission of the application. The accompanying planning statement says there is currently no permanent feature recognising the 1943 crash despite the site’s local historical importance, and that the committee developed the proposals to create an appropriate place of remembrance while preserving the setting.
- Applicant: Bushmills Through the Wars Committee
- Location: Existing concrete platform adjacent to pedestrian route at Portballintrae
- Commemoration: Crew of RAF Vickers Wellington DV664 (crashed 28 November 1943)
- Materials proposed: Polished granite plinth and engraved tablets
Local significance and impact
Using the former military concrete base is presented in the planning documents as a way to minimise new physical intervention in the coastal setting while creating a focal point for remembrance. The location, immediately beside a popular pedestrian link and near well-used beach access points, means the memorial would be visible to residents and visitors alike, potentially raising awareness of the wartime event and providing a space for commemorative acts.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Memorial type | Polished granite plinth with engraved tablets |
| Site | Existing concrete platform (former indicator loop substation) |
| Event commemorated | Crash of RAF Vickers Wellington DV664, 28 November 1943 |
The planning application now proceeds through the normal council process and will be considered in line with local planning policies. For residents the proposal raises practical questions about maintenance, interpretation, and how the memorial will be integrated into the coastal environment and public access routes. It also responds to a wider local interest in preserving and interpreting wartime history across Causeway Coast and Glens.
As the application moves forward, council papers and meeting minutes will record further details on consultation, any conditions recommended by officers, and the decision timetable. Local people with an interest in the site or the history it represents may wish to monitor the council’s planning portal for updates.
