The shelving of a proposed new Lagan Valley sports centre in Lisburn and the dropping of a project to build an Elite Basketball facility at the Laurelhill Sports Zone and the elite Tennis centre at Hillsborough have been slammed.
The two projects are among five state-of-the-art sports centres that were to be built in NI in the countdown to the 2012 Olympics.
All five have now been shelved after a £50m Government budget cut.
Also included in the cuts are a cycling velodrome and a sailing facility with the Stormont Sports Minister saying cuts meant the money was no longer there for them.
The DUP's Nelson McCausland added that none of the projects had yet produced a "satisfactory business case".
"With all of them, when they were scrutinised by Sport NI and by the economists internally it became clear that there were significant issues that needed to be reviewed," Mr McCausland said.
He added: "I fought very hard for sport in our capital programme and over the next four years we will have £130m of capital spend on sports infrastructure in Northern Ireland."
However, he said: "There are a range of competing interests and competing demands."
In response, the Lagan Valley Alliance Chair Stephen Martin expressed his disappointment at the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure's decision to cancel their backing of a proposed new basketball centre of excellence in Lisburn and tennis facility at Hillsborough.
Stephen Martin said: "This is a bad day for local sport and I am disappointed at this news.
"This is a challenging economic time and government both at Stormont and at local level are trying to ensure that taxpayers money is essentially diverted to protect vital frontline services. The very sad consequence is the loss of exciting projects like these.
"I am disappointed that we have lost out on funding for a new basketball centre of excellence due to be based in Lisburn and also with a tennis facility in Hillsborough.
"These projects are investments in our future especially those of our city's young people. Sport is the most important outlet for kids and ensures that they have a focus to help combat potentially negative influences. Money spent now ensuring kids are active and healthy will save us all in the long run," he said.
The Ulster Unionist Councillor David Archer has also expressed his extreme disappointment and frustration at the decision to withdraw funding for the proposed Elite Basketball facility at the Laurelhill Sports Zone and the elite Tennis centre at Hillsborough.
Councillor Archer, who represents Lisburn Town North said: "This announcement is just the latest blow to the city of Lisburn and the wider Lagan Valley Constituency, which has already suffered from the collapse of the National Stadium project and the prevarication over the John Lewis development.
"Lisburn - or more specifically Laurelhill Sports Zone - had been identified as the site of one of the five prioritised Elite Facilities for the London Olympics 2012, where Lisburn City Council was in partnership with Ulster Basketball, Northern Ireland Volleyball, Knights Wheelchair Basketball, Laurelhill Community College and the SEELB.
"The Borough also had high hopes for the elite Tennis centre at Hillsborough.
"For these projects to be pulled at this late stage, bearing in mind the amount of work and money expended on it already, is little short of scandalous," he fumed.
(BMcC/GK)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
15/11/2024
An emergency road closure has been announced following serious structural integrity concerns of the former Antrim Arms Hotel building on Castle Street in Ballycastle. Following genuine fears surrounding the safety of the building's structure, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have ...
15/11/2024
A pre-design public consultation for the Dublin-based College Green - Dame Street Public Realm Project has been launched. The proposal to remodel College Green and Dame Street is a joint initiative by Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority. The project aims to transform Dublin's ...
15/11/2024
A new plan which aims to fill vacant homes and revitalise derelict buildings has been proposed by Ireland's Green Party. The Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill put forward by the party aims to establish a single permitting system for fire, accessibility and planning in a one-stop-shop for ...
15/11/2024
Works will begin next week to provide a more reliable water supply in County Kildare, Uisce Éireann has announced. The improvements, which will take place in Allenwood, will also target the reduction of high levels of leakage. GMC Utilities Group are carrying out the works on behalf of Uisce ...
15/11/2024
Essential wastewater improvements being made to the North Street area in Carrickfergus are set to be completed on Friday, November 22, NI Water has announced. Further works will recommence to the area on January 6, after the busy Christmas period. The work is part of a major investment to improve ...
15/11/2024
A forthcoming road closure in Wicklow has been announced by the County Council ahead of essential roadworks which are suspected to last a week. The closure will impact the L-69052 road in Arklow and will take place on the junction of the L2901, Laffin's Lane and The Brook, from Monday, November ...
14/11/2024
A L'Derry park was visited by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs yesterday following the completion of extensive works. Manor Park in Moneymore welcomed Minister Andrew Muir MLA, who made the trip to see the result of extensive works which totalled £260,000. The ...
14/11/2024
A Railway Order planning application will be made by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) regarding the major Luas Finglas project. The application will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála on Monday, November 18, while the public can make submissions about the proposed light rail line from November ...
14/11/2024
A new €8.8 million social housing scheme officially launched in County Louth recently. The Ferrard Park development in Drogheda contains 28 new houses which were acquired by Louth County Council from CFS Homes for tenants from the council's social housing waiting list. The houses, which include a ...
14/11/2024
A number of projects across Wicklow aimed at addressing the negative impacts of climate change have received a significant cash boost. Wicklow County Council and The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications announced an allocation of €675,574.33 to 20 community groups across the ...