Glacial pace of progress a disgrace

But the absolutely glacial pace of progress on this important site is a disgace.

Years after the initial plans were agreed we are supposed to cheer the news that people have been appointed to a regeneration board which, presumably, will then wrangle over what should be done at the site.

Ironically, on the same day Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness made their announcement, the Secretary of State Owen Paterson was making speech about the way the Executive was implementing some decisions and floating the idea that it might be time to re-visit the lack of an opposition at Stormont.

I say ironic because if direct rule had continued for just a short time longer we could well have been looking forward to welcoming one of the Olympic football matches at our new state of the art national stadium. We could certainly have looked forward to it being the centrepiece of next year’s Police and Fire Service games.

Instead we’re getting the A5.

Let’s hope that whoever is chosen to lead the new regeneration board won’t be a political appointee, but someone with the drive and determination to make the Maze site the success the people of Lagan Valley deserve.

Tired of Waiting,

Hillsborough