COUNCIL TO CONSIDER STADIUM PROPOSALS
Published Date:
03 September 2008
PLANS for the creation of a new 'community stadium and sports village' on land beside the Valley Leisure Centre are set to be considered by local councillors later this month.
The ambitious £35 million plan, as revealed in last week's Newtownabbey Times, will be presented to members of the council's powerful Policy and Governance Committee.
The stadium plan was officially launched at the Lansdowne Hotel last Thursday, where speakers included representatives of the two football clubs behind the project, Crusaders and Newington, the Stedium Working Group and other interested parties such as the Commuity Relations Council and local politicians.
Among those who attended the event were Newtownabbey Council's Deputy Chief Executive Hilary Brady and local councillors Nigel Hamilton and Billy DeCourcy.
Former Newtownabbey councillor Mark Langhammer spoke on behalf of the Stadium Working Group, outlining the the ambitious plan for a sustainable 4,200 seater football stadium and 'sports and educational village'.
Mr Langhammer said that those behind the stadium plan are now at the stage of trying to find a local authority to work with on the project.
The meeting heard that of five sites originally considered, the plan's architects are now proposing just two possibilities - Grove Park in North Belfast or the Valley Park.
Requiring the backing of either Belfast City Council or Newtownabbey Borough Council to make the plan a reality, Mr Langhammer said that the Stadium Working Group would now be seeking support from the two local authorities.
"The bottom line is that councils now have to determine whether they're going to work with this proposal and help shape it and help develop it or not," he said.
"From our perspective quick decisions are important, momentum is important. We can't wait around forever."
Mr Langhammer stressed that the Crusaders/Newington Working Group will need some form of council committment by June next year or they will be forced to consider staying at their exisiting ground on the Shore Road.
"We have a plan B for Seaview, but that's not what we want to do. This is an exciting project and we think there's a win for everybody here," he stressed.
The full article contains 359 words and appears in Newtownabbey Times newspaper.
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Last Updated:
03 September 2008 12:17 PM
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Source:
Newtownabbey Times
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Location:
Glengormley, NEWTOWN ABBEY