Plans for sports stadium on Maze site dropped

Plans for a sports stadium on the site of the former Maze prison have been scrapped, the North’s culture minister officially confirmed today.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister Gregory Campbell told the Assembly he had recommended the Executive dropped the plan and said the millions earmarked might now be spent on other sports projects.

The news sparked immediate criticism, with opponents claiming he had effectively wasted the £3.6m (€4m) spent so far on the stadium plan.

It had been hoped that a multi-sports stadium on the site of the top security jail which housed paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles would have hosted rugby, soccer and gaelic games.

However, Mr Campbell confirmed leaks that he had recommended the idea be ditched were correct.

“In line with the commitment which I gave in the Assembly on January 12, 2009, I forwarded my conclusions on the proposed multi-sports stadium at the Maze to the Executive on January 27,” he said.

“In my paper to the Executive I advised that I had reviewed all the evidence available to me, including meeting with the (sports) governing bodies involved and had come to the view that the Maze proposal should not proceed.

“I also advised that I intended to have a further series of discussions with the governing bodies of the sports involved in order to explore alternatives.”

The DUP was said to have been split on the stadium plan, with some members in favour of the investment it would have brought, while others opposed the scheme.

Unionist critics claimed a plan to retain sections of the prison – including buildings associated with the 1981 republican hunger strike at the jail – would see it become a shrine to republicans.

The plans to develop a conflict transformation centre at the site of the former prison are expected to proceed, with a number of the buildings already listed for preservation.

But a study commissioned by former Finance Minister, and now First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson, also raised concerns over the cost of the proposed stadium.

The resources that could have been spent on the stadium might now be used to renovate grounds linked to the three sporting codes.

Mr Campbell said: “I have already had initial meetings with the relevant (sport) governing bodies.

“I have asked them to review their options on stadium or stadia provision and report back to me.”

He said a decision had yet to be made on the way forward, but he reacted to fears that the failure to build the proposed stadium would mean there would be no venue inside the North that could now be used for events from the 2012 London Olympics.

“Northern Ireland’s capability to actively participate (in the Games) could only be fully determined once a decision is taken on the preferred stadium option or options,” said Mr Campbell.

He added: “I am however considering the possibility of supporting a limited programme of remedial work at Windsor Park so that (Northern Ireland) international football can continue to be played there until a longer term solution is found.”

In an Assembly question, meanwhile, it emerged the organisations involved in the stadium development were PricewaterhouseCoopers, the HOK Sports Partnership and KPMG.

No compensation will be paid as all contracts were completed.

However, Pat Bradley (SDLP, Foyle) said: “It is a waste of public money and people will be shocked and alarmed that so much investment was put in place for it not to go ahead.

“It doesn’t take away from the original concept for a regional stadium encompassing the three major sports to build a shared future.

“It would have enabled Northern Ireland to host some of the events for the 2012 Olympics so that is a crying shame as well.”