Little-Pengelly appeals to O’Neill to unlock potential of Maze site

Emma Little-Pengelly has appealed directly to Michelle O’Neill to lift a block on economic development at the former Maze prison site to unleash its “incredible potential”.

The deputy First Minister told MLAs that she believed parts of the site could be developed while discussions continue on dealing with “difficult” legacy issues.

The derelict paramilitary prison only compromises part of the huge 347 acre site near Lisburn that falls under the remit of the Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation, which was established in 2011.

While there has been some development – most significantly the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society becoming an anchor tenant and moving the annual Balmoral Show to the venue – the wider transformation of the site has been stalled for over a decade.

The Ulster Aviation Society and the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance also operate out of the site.

The full regeneration plan hit the buffers in 2013 when former DUP first minister Peter Robinson blocked efforts to build a peace centre as part of the redevelopment of the sprawling grounds which once housed the high-security jail and were gifted to the Northern Ireland Executive by the UK Government.

The prison held paramilitary inmates during the Troubles and was the location for republican hunger strikes in 1981 in which 10 died, including Bobby Sands.

Mr Robinson’s move came amid unionist concerns about the symbolism of building a peace centre on the site of the prison.

A political impasse has continued since.

At ministerial question time on Monday, Sinn Fein MLA Sinead Ennis asked the deputy First Minster about progress on the site.

Ms Little-Pengelly, whose Lagan Valley constituency contains the sprawling site, said the issue had been “a source of real frustration for me”.

The DUP politician said: “I don’t agree with the Sinn Fein position that nothing can happen on that site until you get your way in relation to the listed buildings.

“I think the listed buildings are a very sensitive issue, there is the potential for a huge amount of hurt depending on what happens there, particularly for victims and survivors.”

Ms Little-Pengelly said former Sinn Fein deputy first minister Martin McGuinness “made clear that nothing, or very little”, could happen on the site in terms of economic development unless there was an agreement on the listed prison buildings.

She added: “I would appeal to Sinn Fein, I would appeal to my colleague in this office (First Minister Ms O’Neill) to lift that restriction and allow that economic potential on a main Belfast to Dublin corridor to go ahead while discussions continue in terms of dealing with those difficult issues and legacy issues from the past.”

She said: “That is such a key site, you can see all kinds of businesses and different economic development that would be interested in going there.

“Given its key strategic site, the importance to my constituency of Lagan Valley.

“I would appeal to lift that condition on economic development, allow that economic development to go ahead, and unleash the incredible potential of the Maze/Long Kesh site, not just for Lagan Valley, but for the entirety of Northern Ireland.”