Ormeau is recommended for stadium

Consultants hired by the Council have recommended Ormeau Park

Consultants hired by Belfast City Council to look at possible sites for the new NI multi-sports stadium have recommended Ormeau Park.

The location was considered alongside other proposals such as the Blanchflower stadium at Sydenham and the Maysfield Leisure centre site.

It is thought the council spent more than £100,000 on the consultation.

However, Councillor Bob Stoker said political considerations meant Ormeau Park was not an automatic choice.

"My position would be that is the best choice in terms of geographical location, economic benefit, transport, location to the city centre," the chairman of the council's parks and leisure committee said. "It has everything going for it.

"But from the political point of view it is not a vote winner amongst representatives from that particular part of the city."

South Belfast assembly member Alex Maskey said the majority of residents in the area were against proposals to build the stadium at Ormeau Park.

"There are particular concerns around the loss of green space as well as the knock on effects that such as stadium would have, such as increased parking and traffic problems, and noise pollution," the Sinn Fein representative said.

"Added to this is the fact that there is not the infrastructure within the area to cope with such a project."