ANY future development of Grove Playing Fields in North Belfast will include GAA facilities.
That's the confident claim of SDLP Councillor Carl Whyte, who made the proposal at Council on Monday evening during a debate on Belfast City Council’s draft pitches strategy.
In North Belfast, there is no dedicated GAA facility with Gaelic games played at Cliftonville Playing Fields, which is a multi-use facility.
Councillor Whyte said: “I have been committed to delivering the expansion of all sporting facilities in North Belfast, including GAA facilities.
“The Council supported my proposal last night that Grove Playing Fields, which has been identified for ‘future phases’ of development and therefore not included in the initial phase, will be subject to a full Masterplan which will include football, GAA and other sports.
“I was concerned that, unlike similar schemes elsewhere in the city including Henry Jones Playing Fields, Ormeau and Victoria Park where future plans had been clearly spelled out, this was not the case for Grove Playing Fields.
"I sought this clarification to ensure that once the pitches strategy is agreed the full benefit for Grove Playing Fields and all sports can be realised when it is eventually redeveloped.”
