Fans 'ignored' over North's football stadium

The British government was last night accused of ignoring the wishes of the North's football fans over the location for a new national stadium.

Belfast City Council unanimously passed a motion demanding a fair and open debate on the proposed £85m (€125m) multi-sports development on the site of the former Maze Prison, near Lisburn.

Councillors from the DUP, UUP, the SDLP and the Alliance Party called on the Secretary of State to reveal the full business case for the controversial move.

Critics of the Maze plan claim that to build the stadium on the site would squander the tourist potential of locating it in the heart of Belfast.

They have cited the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Croke Park in Dublin and Wembley as examples of how major stadia work best in cities.

DUP Councillor Ian Crozier claimed a blanket of secrecy surrounded the British government’s plans.

He told the council’s monthly meeting: “The case for the Maze site is woefully inadequate. It is painfully thin and the more we discuss it the more it is brutally exposed.

"This is not just about Belfast. The Northern Ireland Supporters Club in Hillsborough (Co Down) have said it should be in Belfast and the Maze is in their back yard.”

A recorded vote at the end of a three-and-a-half hour session was taken in a deserted chamber.

The motion called for the British government to:

:: Take heed of the views of the North's football supporters and others who do not believe the Maze is a suitable location for the stadium.

:: Reveal immediately the full business case for the national stadium.

:: To identify how the Maze move fits in with wider government policies.

:: Hold a fair and open debate on the national stadium.

:: Identify a suitable inner city brownfield site for the national stadium in Belfast.

The motion was passed by 19 votes for, with none against.

Sinn Féin members did not take part in the vote, which was the last item to come before the council.

During the debate, Alliance Councillor Mervyn Jones questioned the 42,500 capacity of the proposed stadium.

Mr Jones said: “There is no way that football will ever fill that. They keep talking about the England match, which was a one-off. In an ordinary situation we will never get anywhere near that.”

He said the Maze plan should not be driven by the prospect of hosting football matches during the 2012 Olympics and forecast it could become a white elephant.

Ulster Unionist councillor Bob Stoker said the British government should use the new stadium to target areas of social need in Belfast.

The SDLP’s Alban Maginness told the meeting: “I do think the government has made a very serious mistake and I think we should fight a very vigorous campaign to alert the public and ensure the stadium is in Belfast.”