Poots still hopeful for Maze
Friday, 24 October 2008
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Former Stormont Sports Minister Edwin Poots has stressed that he has not given up on the goal of a major new stadium at the former Maze Prison site.
And the Lagan Valley MLA warned that something even more substantial will be demanded for the location, should the stadium project be axed.
The DUP man said he and Lisburn Mayor Ronnie Crawford met First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness this week to discuss the Maze site.
“I'm always an optimist,” Mr Poots told the Belfast Telegraph.
“We met the First and Deputy First Minister on Monday and the case was re-stated. There has to be something of reasonable significance there. If they step back from the stadium, we will be seeking something better than that.
“It's not a case of them walking away from a sports development at the Maze and us saying, oh dear, that's too bad.
“We will be aggressively fighting for something that is even more significant.”
Referring to the meeting with Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness, Mr Poots said: “They would indicate that the decision has not been made.”
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At last the word sense and a DUP politician can be combined in the same sentence
Posted by Tony Fearon | 27.10.08, 14:05 GMT
* Steven ,buddy I think you mean the Millenium Stadium..Cardiff Arms Park is about to be demolished!!!!
My view is that we need a stadium full stop. We need finance and we need support...problem is in our 'unique' cultural situation in west Britain we will naturally struggle to get both...There are many good reasons not to have a Maze stadium and plenty more to have a Belfast Stadium (what we really need in the ideal world.) BUT because of 'bickering', lack of funds, general 'Ulsterisms and understandable lack of mainland patience that will not happen. The lesser or two evils is to have a Maze stadium...If we dont seize the Olympic opportunity it will decades, most of us wont live to see it...by saying 'NO' we are cutting off our nose to spite our face, its nit ideal..but better than the alternative or nothing......
Posted by andy O'Neill | 25.10.08, 20:32 GMT
Can we not give up the ghost on the Maze, if it was such a great site it would have been sorted by now, but who wants to see a multi-purpose Stadium built out in the sticks?
It makes no sense, look at successes and failures, Cardiff Arms Park, what a success, everyone loves games their, why, because it's in the city and is handy to everything! Do any of the supporters really want to travel out by bus or car (there is no train), get stuck in traffic, have limited food or drink venues, que to get back home again? The GAA support is more from the Counties, but still, are weekends in Dublin not what makes the All-Ireland so much more fun?
Just an opinion.
Posted by Steven | 24.10.08, 12:18 GMT
Would SF and its supporters be so vociferously behind the Maze if there were no plans to have the "shrine" erected?
Posted by mickey | 24.10.08, 10:51 GMT