Stormont delivers for Ballymena Showgrounds Redevelopment

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland today highlighted the importance of improving spectator facilities at major sports stadiums across Northern Ireland.

The Minister was speaking as he visited Ballymena United Football Club, to view the progress being made on redeveloping the showgrounds.

The Northern Ireland Executive through the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and its arms-length body Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) recently provided the club with £808,000, under its Stadia Safety Programme, towards the refurbishment of the Warden Street Stand. Work commenced on 18 January and is due to be completed in August 2010.

During the visit the Minister said: "Ballymena Borough Council and the club should be commended for their hard work and initiative in re-developing the showgrounds, particularly with regard to safety standards. These are the types of improvements that I, as Minister, would like to see happening across all our major sports stadiums."

The works that will be carried out at the showgrounds include: replacing the main stand roof covering, extend and replace the main stand roof structures and essential safety systems, extend seating structures to replace standing terrace and install new seats throughout.

The Minister added: "This is another example of the Stormont delivering for the people of Northern Ireland at a local level, working in partnership with a football club fully embedded in the community which is contributing positively to both senior and grassroots level football.”

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