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New Leisure Centre for Ormeau Park
A new leisure centre will be built at Ormeau Park in south Belfast to replace the Maysfield Leisure Centre that was closed last July, running at a loss of £1.5 million/year. The sale of the site at Maysfield would be expected to fetch £8-10 million for the council.
However, Sinn Fein wanted a new facility on the old site at Maysfield. A Catholic Priest and Sinn Fein councillor (bastion of neutrality there) claimed that Maysfield's location was more neutral and that residents living in the surrounding area would not feel comfortable going down to the Ormeau Park site.
Awwh diddums. Well if you're carrying a tricolour and shouting "Kill All Huns" maybe you won't be safe - especially not if I happen to be in the area - so don't do it.
Now I'm not aware of the sectarian geography of the area, but I know the Ormeau Park is fairly close to the Ormeau Road and the "North of Ireland" sports ground there. I can only assume that it's slightly further up the Ormeau Road, but that would still put it within spitting distance of the Queen's University PE Centre. In fact, I've only walked to Ormeau Park once and had to go through the Holylands to get there. Did I feel unsafe? No, just dirty
Maysfield, on the other hand, is about equidistant (AFAIK) between the Markets and the Short Strand. Hmmm the plot thickens.
Follow up:
There's also the possibility that Sinn Fein, socialists that they are, just want the council to waste as much money as possible on leisure centres. Remember if this country is run well, who's going to care about a united Ireland? D'oh!
Essentially, Belfast can't even get a brand spanking new leisure centre without the Sinners having a f**king MOPE! Obviously the SDLP joined in because if they didn't, that leaves Sinn Fein standing as sole defenders of a beleagured nationalist community in Belfast - and that won't do the SDLP any favours come election time.
Now excuse me while I go vomit.