No sports stadium at prison site

[Paul Clerkin]

There will be no multi-sports stadium built on the site of the Maze prison in Northern Ireland, it has been revealed.

The BBC has learned that Sports Minister Gregory Campbell has ruled out the controversial plan for the site.

He is opting instead to explore alternatives with the soccer, rugby and GAA authorities.

Money will be given to Linfield and the IFA for an upgrade to Windsor Park so internationals can be played there until a permanent solution is found.

The proposed Maze stadium has divided political and sporting opinion like few others.

Now it appears to be finally dead.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7856036.stm

[GregF]

Gas that NI looks as if it will end up with no stadium at all. Thanks to the DUP sports minister who would rather cut off his nose to spite his face. And gas too that the centre for conflict resolution, the thorn in the side of this scheme at the Maze, aka Longkesh, aka the H-Blocks, may still go ahead.

So the ramshackle Windsor Park will probably get a lick of paint and a bit of DIY work done while the option of having a brand new 30,000 seater, shared by the GAA, the IRFU and the IFA is abandoned.
All much to the pleasure of some NI folk.

[Royal Fritz]

Contentious subject, politically, socially and architecturally. Very frustrating but I must admit I was against the idea of the Maze stadium going ahead. The Ormeau site was potentially the best option for Belfast. I believe a stadium that far from the centre would have been a mistake. If only they had placed it within the development of the 'Titanic quarter' (I hate that name).

[Paul Clerkin]

I think they should have went for a h+w site myself