Long Kesh Park takes another step forward

[Main Street]

Interesting selective quoting yet again. UR haven't seen a proposal from BCC, because there hasn't been one. That doesn't mean they won't look at one if/when one becomes available.

The perfectly adequate court verified quote is eye witness evidence that Ulster Rugby hasn't been approached or they havent seen a proposal.
If they do see a proposal they could do a lot of things, look at it, laugh at it, cry at it.

See previous answer. DCAL confirm that 6 Belfast options were discussed and 2 put forward and the GAA said no to any Belfast site.

Jaysus Sammy reading DUP politicans assembly speak is marginally less attractive that reading your posts.
We already know that Poots has claimed the GAA exercised what he calls a veto, which the GAA emphatically deny.

The minutes  claim that the IFA exercised a veto
´Mr McCausland: The IFA has identified that it would prefer the Maze site. Apparently, it does not want a Belfast site. I find that interesting given the fact that most football supporters would prefer a Belfast site´

I am deeply shocked Sammy, firstly the minister tried to shift the onus on the GAA for the location, the GAA deny that in a blazing rebuke to Poots then we have the IFA saying out loud it wants the Maze,  saying NO to Belfast.




In general on the Belfast option 28/02/2008
'The council assured the Minister that the proposal would be ready, but it is still not ready. In fact, Belfast City Council has not even discussed it yet. Therefore, it will be several more months, at the earliest, before anybody gets to see the proposal because the council will have to approve it through its committee stage and it will have to be endorsed at a full council meeting, too.'

'The response from Belfast City Council has been poor. I urge the Minister and the Department to rule Belfast out as an option at this stage. There are other proposals for the north foreshore site. Looking at this matter from the point of view of a business case, it is clear that the option is hypothetical. It is unfair to have such hypothetical options in the business case. It is unfair to the other sites'.

[T Fearon]

Too much attention is being afforded to OWC bigots who are at the end of the day the only oponents to the Maze site. Sinn Fein have said it will be there or nowhere so relax everyone. At the end of the day the Brit Government wants the  Maze and the three main bodies, namely the IFA, URFU,and IFA. What chance have three or four thousand bigots got of stopping this?

[his holiness nb]

Perhaps you could find one for me? Oh, I forgot - you like to make all sorts of wild allegations about what people are posting on OWC, but feel you are absolved from having to substantiate them, since you've sworn not to go back...

Oh stop whingeng EG, anyone can log on there and see for themselves. I couldnt be arsed.

Can I suggest that you foreswear referring to the site

Suggest away 

like some yappy wee bastard of a dog that starts a fight in the park by sneaking up on another dog from behind and biting it on the arse, then runs aways and hides whilst all the other big dogs in the vicinity square up to each other...  

EG, do you think saying someone is "like some yappy wee bastard" is in fact different from saying someone is a "yappy wee bastard" and therefore is less personally abusive?

If your going to take the moral high ground here, at least cut the childish stuff out yourself.

[his holiness nb]

You don't have to "support" the site even by posting on it, never mind by subscribing to it. All we're saying is that if you're going to refer to it, then at least have the integrity to back up your references by quoting from it. Otherwise, following your weak attempts at debate over there, you now merely expose your lack of credibility to the posters of this Board.

Weak attempts at debate there, lack of credibility here?
EG repeating this old chestnut over and over doesnt make it true. I merely pointed out the bigotry I encountered over there. And for pointing out the bigotry I encountered on your precious site I must endure your persistant attempts to discredit me personally and your personal insults.

After all, if Donagh - who refuses to become a Patron on a point of principle - can browse the site in order to find ammunition for his posts, why can't you? Think of it as another means of ingratiating yourself further with him, without it appearing such an obvious effort at arselicking...

Pathetic. Funny how anyone in agreement with, of in defense of one of your arch enemies on here (be honest) is singled out for ridicule by either being called "gay" or accused of "arse licking".

Real schoolyard stuff EG, bully boy tactics. Totally pathetic.

[deiseach]

I can't view OWC (the forum) at all. Is it because I is Déisigh?

[snatter]

'Big three' sports chiefs snub Stormont stadium meeting invite

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/39Big-three39-sports-chiefs-snub.3921776.jp

The three main sporting bodies involved in the Maze stadium plan have rejected an invitation to meet a Stormont committee to further discussions on the proposals.
The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure committee asked for the meeting with the three men in charge of the IFA, GAA and Ulster Rugby to talk about the stalled plan.

Howard Wells of the IFA, the GAA's Danny Murphy and Mike Reid of Ulster Rugby, who all support the original proposals have already met the committee.

In a thinly-veiled snub at the delay on a decision to build the stadium, they wrote to say there was nothing further to discuss.

The sports chiefs said that in the lack of any viable alternative and the unlikelihood of other options being brought forward within a time frame which would prove acceptable to all three sports - particularly soccer - they feel there is nothing to be added to the current debate.

The three men added that they are convinced the current plan will provide a stadium which will cover its operating costs and provide income for the sports involved.

Howard Wells said he felt that it was a time for action rather than words.

The Gaelic Athletic Association, Irish Football Association and Ulster Rugby have already told the Assembly they would play games at the new stadium.

Other options examined and so far rejected include a possible stadium on reclaimed land in north Belfast and the refurbishment of the three sporting codes' existing venues.

[T Fearon]

What other country, artificial gerrymandered statelet in the World, would you find a government pandering to the wishes of a few thousand narrowminded bigots (ie owc supporters) and delay the construction of a brand new multi use stadium which has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the three sporting bodies and the vast majority of the spectators( ie GAA and Rugby) that will use it.

[Mutley]

T Fearon, what did the northern Ireland Supporters or players ever do to you, it looks to me like you are as biased, if not more so than you claim they are. I doubt they are as bad as you make them out to be.

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

The three main sporting bodies involved in the Maze stadium plan have rejected an invitation to meet a Stormont committee to further discussions on the proposals.

Don't really see why they didn't turn up to discuss the issue, even just for courtesy to restate their position

[Mutley]

It never ceases to amaze me how many times and how many ways people can disagree in Northern Ireland. I honestly do not know how you get anything accomplished up there at all, take for example the new stadium.

This site seems to have more than its fair share of northern gentlemen who are a tad intolerant of one another.

[ziggysego]

If nothing else, I could do nothing but laugh at the hypocrisy of David McNarry. The man has a short memory.

[snatter]

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Sports-chiefs-accused-of-own.3923915.jp

Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn accused the DUP of delaying tactics and of using the stadium row as a political football.

He asked: "How can it be that the sporting bodies, the majority of the population, well-informed business experts can be so wrong and a small band of diehard unionists be right?"

[SammyG]

Another rat leaves the sinking ship

From yesterday's Sunday Tribune

MAZE STADIUM IN JEOPARDY AS ADVISER RESIGNS

Troubled project suffers a final blow with the resignation of key figure

Terry McLaughlin

The most senior adviser involved in the proposed development of the Maze Stadium project has resigned his post.

Tony Whitehead's decision to return to England after five years working on the Maze project has stunned his colleagues at the Northern Ireland Strategic Investment Board.

It is the final confirmation that the multi million pound scheme to transform the former 360-acre Hunger Strike prison site on the outskirts of Lisburn has collapsed.

Whitehead, a former high ranking executive with the Confederation of British Industry, had been head hunted in order to coordinate the project.

His 15 years of expertise in the development and delivery of large scale urban regeneration schemes linked to Public and Private Finance Initiatives was seen as crucial to the success of the Maze dream.

And on a personal basis, Whitehead's commitment to the vision of a shared post conflict future built in Northern Ireland around the Maze was absolute.

A spokesman from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister at Stormont said that Whitehead "after five years in Northern Ireland had decided to pursue new career opportunities".

However, the Sunday Tribune understands that the main factor in Whitehead's decision to leave was directly linked to his frustration at the continued series of delays and ever present undercurrent of political interference surrounding the Maze scheme.

[Deal_Me_In]

Another rat leaves the sinking ship

From yesterday's Sunday Tribune

MAZE STADIUM IN JEOPARDY AS ADVISER RESIGNS

Troubled project suffers a final blow with the resignation of key figure

Terry McLaughlin

The most senior adviser involved in the proposed development of the Maze Stadium project has resigned his post.

Tony Whitehead's decision to return to England after five years working on the Maze project has stunned his colleagues at the Northern Ireland Strategic Investment Board.

It is the final confirmation that the multi million pound scheme to transform the former 360-acre Hunger Strike prison site on the outskirts of Lisburn has collapsed.

Whitehead, a former high ranking executive with the Confederation of British Industry, had been head hunted in order to coordinate the project.

His 15 years of expertise in the development and delivery of large scale urban regeneration schemes linked to Public and Private Finance Initiatives was seen as crucial to the success of the Maze dream.

And on a personal basis, Whitehead's commitment to the vision of a shared post conflict future built in Northern Ireland around the Maze was absolute.

A spokesman from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister at Stormont said that Whitehead "after five years in Northern Ireland had decided to pursue new career opportunities".
However, the Sunday Tribune understands that the main factor in Whitehead's decision to leave was directly linked to his frustration at the continued series of delays and ever present undercurrent of political interference surrounding the Maze scheme.

This sounds more like he got fed up waiting on the politicians to make up their mind. The main people inviolved - the 3 sporting bodies are committed to the project as much now as they were 5 years ago.

[ziggysego]

This sounds more like he got fed up waiting on the politicians to make up their mind. The main people inviolved - the 3 sporting bodies are committed to the project as much now as they were 5 years ago.

That's what it sounded like to me.

However, the Sunday Tribune understands that the main factor in Whitehead's decision to leave was directly linked to his frustration at the continued series of delays and ever present undercurrent of political interference surrounding the Maze scheme.