Lagan Valley Candidate Breaks Ranks on “White Elephant”
The Conservatives became the first party in Northern Ireland to come out and publicly question the wisdom of the Government’s plans for a national stadium at the Maze. Even Lagan Valley candidate Neil Johnston has expressed concern, meanwhile the other candidates in that constituency are still dreaming of photo-opportunities and self-interest.
In a press release issued today, Johnston said:
“When the government says they are going to spend multi millions on a project we should all be very concerned. When the government says it is really only prepared to spend money on one option to the exclusion of other options – then we should be very worried indeed.
The vast majority of our candidates are in favour of a Belfast stadium and even though I am from Moira I am extremely sceptical about the Maze site. I believe the Assembly needs to sit down and look at all the options – without the government holding a gun to their head. My concern is that this stadium could be built by a multi national consortium using overseas workers and the only jobs that it might bring to local people might be to steward or run fast-food outlets on the dozen or so busy days each year that the stadium would actually be used. We could be left with a White Elephant of enormous proportions.
[Other parties] are trying to be all things to all men – but we believe it is time someone said ‘The Emperor has no clothes’ - this project simply does not stack up at present.
We are all basking in the glory of Ireland’s victory over England at Croke Park but we should reflect that there are never going to be ‘days like this’ at the Maze Stadium. There will never be Six Nation matches at the Maze and indeed all the proposed sporting partners have signed up in a very minimalist way.”
As well as applauding Mr Johnston for his honest stance on the issue and for seeing past parochial interests, Stadium For Belfast calls on all the local parties and candidates to follow suit and state publicly that they support a Belfast stadium and end this Maze nonsense once and for all.