Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt has received clarification from the Sports Minister regarding the £1.5m which she announced last week for the Coleraine Showgrounds.  

Mr Nesbitt said:

“In an answer to a question from me in the Assembly last Tuesday, the Sports Minister stated; “A total of £2·5 million has been identified, through Limavady Borough Council, for a new sports complex in Dungiven and £1·5 million for Coleraine Showgrounds.”

“This news was greeted with great excitement in Coleraine, especially amongst the local football fraternity, but this delight was short-lived following a tweet later that same night from Caral Ni Chuilin which said “Coleraine Borough Council are getting the money for mixed use pitches.

“On Wednesday I called for urgent clarification and I have now received a letter from the Minister, dated 01 May 2014. In it the Minister states her wish “to offer further information and clarification to my answer to your supplementary question … regarding sports complexes in Derry, Dungiven and Coleraine.”

She continued; “By way of further information and clarification I would like to advise that as part of the City of Culture capital legacy projects in 2014/15, Coleraine Borough Council has been allocated £1.5m to develop the first phase of a multi-sport ‘sports village’ in Rugby Avenue Coleraine. Phase 1 of this project will provide provision of two synthetic pitches and ancillary facilities and is due to be operational by September 2014.”

“In other words, what the Minister is actually saying is that the Coleraine Showgrounds is NOT receiving any money and that she made a mistake. Whilst I welcome the fact that the Minister had now clarified her position, I share the disappointment that will be felt by many football fans in the Coleraine area that hopes should be falsely raised.”