A DUP proposal to name a Craigavon leisure centre in honour of Northern Ireland's centenary has been fiercely criticised by nationalists.
DUP councillor Mark Baxter has proposed naming it the 'Centenary Leisure Centre' to mark 100 years since partition in 2021.
Currently referred to as 'South Lake Leisure Centre', the multi-million-pound facility had been scheduled to open in August but was delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown.
The proposal – to come before Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council tonight – has been seconded by DUP councillor Stephen Moutray and signed by all DUP council members.
They also suggest that "Her Majesty The Queen or her representative" should be invited to "officially open this iconic facility".
Mr Baxter said the name would be a "fitting and inexpensive way to mark this significant anniversary".
Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance have hit out at the proposal.
Sinn Féin councillor Liam Mackle said his party would be opposing the name, describing it as "complete madness".
"It just came out of the blue. There has been a board working at the leisure centre in terms of the councillors and it has been meeting for five years, and the working name for the leisure centre has always been South Lake Leisure Centre," he said.
SDLP councillor Joe Nelson said he would be "giving a strong message that what they are doing is totally at odds with the Good Friday Agreement".
"In my opinion they want to call it after the worst thing to happen to Ireland since partition," he said.
"I respect others' views but I will be very vocal about my opposition to this proposal when it is raised in council."
Alliance councillor Eoin Tennyson said his party "believes council facilities should be named in a manner which maintains neutrality and reflects locality, so as to be welcoming for everyone across our community".
"The existing name of South Lake Leisure Centre achieves this, recognising local connections without memorialising or political posturing," he said.
"Any change at this late stage would mean further delay to the opening of the centre and additional cost to ratepayers as an equality impact assessment would have to be satisfied, signage replaced at a potential cost of more than £40,000, and planning implications would have to be considered."
The council has a slight unionist majority with 11 DUP councillors, 10 UUP, one independent unionist, 10 Sinn Féin, six SDLP and three Alliance.
Should the Ulster Unionists back the proposal, it will have the majority required to carry.
UUP councillor Julie Flaherty said the party had yet to meet to discuss the issue.
"Unfortunately the UUP group have not had the opportunity to meet and discuss this matter," said the Portadown councillor.
"We will do so in anticipation of the council meeting on Monday night."
