REPRESENTATIVES of residents living close to Casement Park have again voiced their support for the re-development of the ground by Ulster GAA, despite some local opposition to the project.
Leaders of the supportive residents' group met Ulster officials when its Annual Convention was held at St Mary's University College, Belfast, on Friday evening, and made clear their lack of support for the imminent judicial review into the granting of planning permission for the stadium's expansion.
In a statement, the residents living in Owenvarragh and Mooreland Park, adjacent to Casement Park, declared:
"Our message to Ulster GAA officials was unambiguous, the majority of people who live next to Casement Park support the project and want to see the stadium built as soon as possible.
" We do not support the current court proceedings which is challenging the Infrastructure Minister’s decision to approve planning permission for the stadium and we believe the lack of governance around this process depicts a group that has lost touch with its neighbours.
"While we fully respect the legal process and the right to challenge it, we are very concerned that a group of people who do not speak for us are seeking to have a disproportionate influence on the future of our whole community."
The Owenvarragh and Mooreland Park residents contend that they speak for most people in the area in backing the new Casement Park project:
"Our views are reflective of the vast majority of people in west Belfast who fully support the proposed plans and want to see this once-in-a-generation opportunity being delivered for our community as soon as possible.
"During our meeting we were heartened by the unstinting commitment given by Ulster GAA to deliver this transformational project and we stated that we are determined that our voice will not be lost in the forthcoming court process and that the considerable support that there is for the project is recognised and heard."
