Carrickfergus DUP councillor voices ‘bias’ concern over sports stadia funding

In response to a letter from the Department, the DUP councillor said he hoped it was “not the beginning of bias towards GAA from the minister”.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, in association with Larne FC, Ballymena United and Carrick Rangers, is pressing for £17m funding to upgrade the towns’ football stadia.

The council has highlighted the importance of ensuring the distribution of sub-regional funding between Casement Park in Belfast and football stadia.

In 2015, the Northern Ireland Executive allocated £36m for a stadia funding programme for local football.

Following the return of power-sharing at Stormont last January, the Executive stated its intention to complete the programme, which includes plans to upgrade Irish League venues and the GAA stadium at Casement Park in Belfast.

Chief executive Anne Donaghy has written to Minister Caral NiChuilin welcoming movement on the Casement Park project and to seek the same level of funding for local football.

The Minister was invited to see firshand the work of Mid and East Antrim’s football clubs.

Speaking at a meeting of the local authority this week, Cllr Collins said: “I am glad to see as a council we are still at the forefront and driving it forward.

“I am hugely disappointed that the minister will not come herself especially with us having three major teams and stadia in the borough.

“I think the minister needs to be mindful amd take our request seriously for the match funding between Casement and football. I just hope it is not to be beginning of a bias towards GAA from the minister.”

Proposals for Carrick Rangers are for new stands, enhancements to stands and the creation of a training academy at Larne FC with plans to develop the main arena at Ballymena Showgrounds to create a European-style stadium.

Larne Football Club has announced the construction of a new stand at the Church End of Inver Park.

Once complete, the new complex will give the provision of 600 seats, including space for wheelchair users. The work represents phase seven of the redevelopment of Inver Park, which began two and half years ago.

Phase eight will be the replacement of the main stand, with the planning application having been lodged at the beginning of this week.

Commenting on the club’s website, chairman Gareth Clements said:  “I can assure everyone that come the spring of 2021, we will have a development similar to the McKay Stand, that as a club, a town and a supporter base we will all be extremely proud of.”

A meeting between the council’s Elected Member Forum, the clubs and the IFA is due to take place on January 19.

A letter to Mid and East Antrim from the Department for Communities has offered the council the opportunity to meet with an official to discuss the programme.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

Click here to read: Clubs urge Stormont department to release vital stadia funding

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