Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney confident Brandywell work will start on time
SINN Féin MLA Raymond McCartney says he is confident that the Brandywell stadium refurbishment will proceed within the agreed time frame.
It follows concerns from Derry City FC that the work may not start for at least another year because of red tape issues.
The club’s board feared that if the work didn’t start on time, it would have to play its games in next season’s SSE Airtricity league in Donegal.
Mr McCartney said: “At the meeting of the Councils Health and Communities Committee on 15thOctober, officials were asked to look at options that would ensure that the Brandywell project would move on to the construction phase and thus ensure the maximum use of the facilities for all users.
“Since then I have met with Council officials and we now believe that a proposal in relation to the greyhound track can be put in place which will ensure that rent for the use of track can set at an affordable rate.
“This proposal will also entail measures that will mitigate against the high rent that state aid rules can impose on Derry City and Strabane Council.
“This should allow all the major users of the Brandywell stadium to agree for the construction to proceed as planned.
“Sinn Féin’s has consistently stated that the Foyle Valley Gateway is a key strategic priority in the One Plan, that it would pose challenges for all involved but with everyone working collectively that it will be delivered.
“It is important that the stadium refurbishment moves forward as planned and I am now confident that this will be the case.”
