§ 10. Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his future social amenity strategy includes the construction of a comprehensive leisure centre on the Bog Meadows to cater for South and West Belfast; and 1834 what assessment he has made of the value of such large multi-district centres, compared with smaller leisure centres which can be identified with a definable community.
§ Mr. CarterResponsibility for the provision of recreational facilities in Belfast rests with the city council. The facility planned for Bog Meadows is not a leisure centre but a recreational area, which will include an all-weather floodlit games pitch, a children's play area, and a recreation-cum-community hall. This provision is one of 10 new neighbourhood recreation facilities that will be provided by the Belfast City Council as part of the Government programme of action in the Belfast area of need.
§ Mr. BradfordI am very grateful to the Minister for that informative reply. Does he accept that there has been a piece of injudicious siting of a large leisure centre on the Albert Bridge Road, which was designed to provide facilities for East and West Belfast but is used only by a small section of the community, due to IRA dominance of the surrounding area?
§ Mr. CarterNo, I do not accept that at all.