Boucher Road surprise vote shows Sinn Fein don't care about Belfast concerts - DUP
A surprise vote pushing through moves that could axe gigs at Boucher Road shows Sinn Fein don’t care about major-league concerts in Belfast, the DUP says.
On Friday night, a city council meeting that was set up to vote through new rates bills also saw nationalists force through a move to have Boucher Road used for sports by 2028 – which came just days after the council voted to delay a decision, so they could get more information about how it could affect Belfast’s music scene and tourism draw.
The council is now to plough ahead with building two GAA pitches and one intermediate soccer pitch on the site, which Sinn Fein previously said would make it impossible to stage big-name concerts there.
Officials are now to see where major gigs could go instead, and there’s a chance Boucher Road might still host both music and sports.
But for DUP councillor Sarah Bunting, the tight deadline and decision to force through the GAA and soccer move without knowing whether Belfast has any other suitable venues for the biggest names in the concert world shows the nationalists don’t care about those gigs.
“Sinn Fein appear focused so singularly on GAA pitches that they will push concert-goers, or even community gardens and a wildflower meadow, aside in an attempt to impose their will alone onto Belfast,” she told the News Letter.
“Our position has always been to deliver upon our unwavering support for football teams such as Kelvin FC and Sandy Row FC; however, that can be delivered upon alongside the provision of an entertainment venue.
“Promoters and stakeholders are confident that concerts with a 40,000 capacity could continue alongside sports pitches [at Boucher Road] and are willing to work with the council to that end.
“Sinn Fein don’t seem to care about an alternative venue for hosting concerts, and when the council agreed to defer the decision they branded it discrimination.”
The News Letter understands that on Friday night unionists and Alliance came out against the idea of overturning the delay to plough ahead with sports pitches, but were outvoted by other parties.
Shortly after that decision, a Sinn Fein politician rushed out a press statement saying it was “fantastic” that the Boucher Road pitches plan “has been given the green light”.
Councillor Natasha Brennan added: “This will be particularly welcomed by Gaels in the city, who have had to contend with underinvestment and a lack of provision for decades.”
Ms Bunting attacked that, accusing Sinn Fein of trying to “govern the city of Belfast by press statement, rather than by what the council has actually agreed”.
“They seem to believe that whatever narrow view they express is what everyone else should fall in line with,” she said. “It is clear that the motion passed includes the potential for hosting concerts at Boucher, yet they seem to believe that should be ignored in favour of whatever they release in a statement.”
The DUP has previously suggested Boucher could be a joint venue for music and sports, while Alliance have been concerned that officials haven’t worked out where major gigs could happen instead.