CONSULTATION MEETING RE THE FUTURE OF THE FORMER ESSO STORAGE FACILITY AIRPORT ROAD

7.00 PM PARK AVENUE HOTEL BELFAST - WEDNESDAY 13TH APRIL 2005

As part of the "Rest in East" campaign to keep Glentoran in East Belfast, the group were invited to attend the above meeting. Rest in East have been pursuing the potential development of the ESSO site since formation last October, and have met with those involved in the site's future use on numerous occasions.

Below is a summary of some the salient points made at the above meeting.

Around thirty invited guests, all of whom have an interest in the regeneration of the site attended the meeting. Sammy Douglas, the chairman of the East Belfast Social and Economic Development Company, hosted the event and spoke for a short time on how the partnership had come into possession of the land.

As a result of the potential privatisation of the Harbour Estate (75% of which lies within East Belfast) a deal has been brokered by local political and community figures for the release of a 13 acre site (formerly used by Esso) from Belfast Harbour Commissioners back into the hands of the local community.

The East Belfast Partnership has been charged with brokering the transaction. There are certain restrictions however as to the future usage of the land. It cannot be utilised for housing or for retail. There is though, opportunity afforded to light industrial/commercial proposals, leisure and recreation facilities within a project that embraces the local history, culture, environment and community. In short the land should be harnessed for the betterment of the people of East Belfast.

The site encompasses 13 acres in a prime location bordered by the Sydenham by-pass and Airport Road. It is an "L" shaped configuration and is described as a vast expanse of nothingness. There are hollows in the site but it is primarily flat with an amount of pipework still in place. The site will initially diminish to around 6 acres to facilitate the construction of a Grade Separated Junction (raised roundabout) on the Sydenham bypass at the unused road into the Harbour Estate (behind the 'Hill end' of the Oval and across from King George playing felds - extreme left of picture above). Most of the initially reduced acreage will be to allow for the storage of building materials, plant etc, but once the 'roundabout' has been built the site may expand again up to 11 acres.

It was stressed at the meeting however that the site could increase potentially to 26 acres if other adjacent land was to be freed up.

Part of the criteria for the transfer of the land is that the site has to be cleaned of any possible pollution by its former owners ESSO.  ESSO state that this has been done and tests are currently ongoing to verify this.

The main meeting was then addressed by Andrew Hailey of Paul Hogarth, and by Declan Hill from the multi discipline team who are charged with consultation on the site.

At this early stage in the process, the consultants asked the floor for their assessment of the pros and cons in relation to the site. These covered road noise, accessibility, no pedestrian access at present, little or no impact on the community whilst the site is being developed, how the linkage between East Belfast and the site is best enhanced (as it is currently severed by the Sydenham bypass), The flight path into the City airport. To this end Rest in East asked if the flight path would cause a problem for the construction of floodlighting. We were assured that this would not be an issue.

There are some time constraints on the project, insofar as the belief is that the site should still not be "covered in weeds" in five years time. Quite a lot of what happens on the site is also dependant on the delivery of the Grade Separated Junction. Once this is in place the "Esso" site will effectively become the new gateway to the Titanic Quarter with the focus being taken away from the Dee Street Bridge.

The consultants then asked those present for their thoughts on how the site could be best utilised. Rest in East conveyed their aspirations as supporters of Glentoran Football Club for the future of the land. As we have maintained from the outset, it will be difficult for Glentoran to stand alone in a new facility without the support of the community. We conveyed our belief that if conditions were right, a Stadium built on the site, which incorporated facilities that would enhance the local community, could become a catalyst for regeneration. One of the parties present commented, "This is the first positive proposal this evening which I would be supportive of". The Rest in East submission was met with little or no opposition. Such a project would require "Blue Sky thinking" but once again we have been aware of that from the outset."  East Belfast Enterprise Park have also expressed an interest in part of the land, but as yet how that will be incorporated into the final design has not been revealed.

The meeting closed with Andrew Hailey explaining that it was now his job to take away the ideas that had been put forward and meet with statutory bodies to proceed the project. Opportunities would exist for further "one to one" consultations with his team. We have secured a guarantee from the Consultants that "Rest in East" will be afforded that privilege. It was also conveyed to us after the meeting by other bodies, that the inclusive nature of  Rest in East's aspirations for the site was appreciated by many in attendance, insofar as this was not a selfish, single-minded stake on the piece of land.

In closing, it is Rest in East's belief that whilst the final acreage and layout of this site has yet to be determined, it remains one feasible and desirable location in 'Inner' East Belfast for the relocation of Glentoran Football Club. It's location within East Belfast and on the edge of a new and exciting development within the Titanic Quarter makes it a prime site. It has no impact on local residents, whilst transportation links are good with major road and rail links nearby.

Members of the Glentoran project team were present at last night's meeting. They will have their own assessment on the site's potential.

This has been ours.