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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Maze corporation 'to cost £5m' | Maze corporation 'to cost £5m' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The development corporation which will examine what to do with the former Maze prison will cost up to £5.1m this year. | The development corporation which will examine what to do with the former Maze prison will cost up to £5.1m this year. |
| The corporation will be set up to look at options for the site after the sports minister decided not to build a multi-sports stadium there. | The corporation will be set up to look at options for the site after the sports minister decided not to build a multi-sports stadium there. |
| The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister said it had identified "an initial budget requirement." | The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister said it had identified "an initial budget requirement." |
| The figure emerged in response to a question from UUP MLA George Savage. | |
| He was told plans for the redevelopment of the site were at "a very early stage" and projected costs for the next two years were currently being determined. | He was told plans for the redevelopment of the site were at "a very early stage" and projected costs for the next two years were currently being determined. |
| However, a sum of "up to £5.1m" has been identified to allow the corporation to "drive forward preparatory work" in the current financial year. | However, a sum of "up to £5.1m" has been identified to allow the corporation to "drive forward preparatory work" in the current financial year. |
| Mr Savage called it a "complete waste of tax payers' money" and said that "at a time of financial downturn this disregard for spending will be scrutinised by the public". | |
| "At this stage we are not even aware of how the site will actually be developed," he said. | |
| "Only months ago OFMDFM stated that we were 'back to square one with the masterplan' so to speak and as far as the Ulster Unionist Party is concerned, nothing has been agreed on how the plans should move forward." | |
| Maintenance | Maintenance |
| Almost half of the projected budget would be spent on "an extensive programme of ground decontamination" across the 347 acre site. | Almost half of the projected budget would be spent on "an extensive programme of ground decontamination" across the 347 acre site. |
| The budget will also include provision for masterplanning and related work, as well as the cost of setting up and staffing the corporation, site security and running costs and the ongoing maintenance of the listed prison buildings and aircraft hangars. | The budget will also include provision for masterplanning and related work, as well as the cost of setting up and staffing the corporation, site security and running costs and the ongoing maintenance of the listed prison buildings and aircraft hangars. |
| More than £350,000 has been spent maintaining the listed buildings on the site of the former Maze prison over the last four years. | More than £350,000 has been spent maintaining the listed buildings on the site of the former Maze prison over the last four years. |
| The high-security prison, built to house paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles, was closed in 2000. | The high-security prison, built to house paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles, was closed in 2000. |
| We are years behind on this project and had we proceeded with the stadium plan, any corporation's costs would probably not have been so high Trevor Lunn, Alliance | We are years behind on this project and had we proceeded with the stadium plan, any corporation's costs would probably not have been so high Trevor Lunn, Alliance |
| TUV leader Jim Allister criticised the amount of money that was being spent on the project. | TUV leader Jim Allister criticised the amount of money that was being spent on the project. |
| He said: "The emergence that up to £5.1m will be spent on preparatory work on the Maze over the current financial year will appal taxpayers at a time of financial hardship." | He said: "The emergence that up to £5.1m will be spent on preparatory work on the Maze over the current financial year will appal taxpayers at a time of financial hardship." |
| Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn, who represents Lagan Valley, said he was angry and extremely frustrated over delays in redeveloping this site and urged the DUP to think again about the Maze stadium idea. | Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn, who represents Lagan Valley, said he was angry and extremely frustrated over delays in redeveloping this site and urged the DUP to think again about the Maze stadium idea. |
| He added: "We are years behind on this project and had we proceeded with the stadium plan, any corporation's costs would probably not have been so high." | He added: "We are years behind on this project and had we proceeded with the stadium plan, any corporation's costs would probably not have been so high." |