Proposals for Maze site to become a museum

Sinn Fein has today called for a £10 million museum and conflict resolution centre to be built on the site of the former Maze prison.

While making their proposal to the British government, the Republican party denied allegations that the facility would be a shrine to the IRA.

However, the party have asked for some of the prison walls, watchtowers and H-blocks to be preserved, along with the hospital where the 10 republican hunger strikers died in 1981.

Other proposals for the 400 acre site, which is based just outside of the city of Lisburn, include a 42,000-seater multi-sports stadium, to be used for International sporting events, and the 2012 London Olympics.

Earlier today, David Hanson, Minister responsible for the regeneration of the Maze/Long Kesh site agreed to a number of key appointments to take the development forward.

Speaking following a meeting of the Maze Monitoring Group, David Hanson welcomed the commitment being given by the political parties to the potentially huge regeneration programme.

He said: "On 30 May I welcomed the publication of the Maze/Long Kesh Masterplan centred on the development of two ground-breaking projects - a multi-sports stadium and an International Centre for Conflict Transformation.

"I promised to move this work forward and that I would dedicate resources to carry out a range of appraisals and studies. The Monitoring Group has today endorsed the appointment of Deloitte Touche to undertake the preparation of a business plan for the International Centre for Conflict Transformation, PricewaterhouseCoopers to conclude a Business Plan for the multi-sports stadium, and RPS to advise on site preparation, planning application preparation, transport assessment and design and environmental studies. Deloitte Touche will also prepare the value for money business case for the site."

The Minister also confirmed that a separate announcement would be made shortly regarding the stadium design competition.

Monitoring Group Chair, DUP member Edwin Poots and Vice Chair Paul Butler from Sinn Fein, also welcomed the announcements.

Mr Poots said: "This is a clear demonstration that the Maze/Long Kesh proposals are gathering momentum. The development of the site cannot happen without the input of this professional expertise. The tenders that have been awarded will hasten the development of the regeneration proposals, and keep the project on schedule for participation in the London 2012 Olympics."

Paul Butler added: "I welcome this development. This is another landmark in the journey towards realising the vast potential of the Maze/Long Kesh and in particular the multi-sports stadium and the International Centre for Conflict Transformation. The Monitoring group will work closely with the various professional teams to ensure that the pace and direction of this essential preparatory work is kept up."

(EF)