Ards Borough Council

The topic of a multi-use stadium for Newtownards was discussed by the Council Services Committee on 18th November 2008.

The committee agreed to ask for a report seeking a more detailed estimate of the costs involved in building a stadium at Portaferry Road or Londonderry Park.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 6-9)

The full Council meeting considered the minutes of the Council Service Committee on 26th November 2008.

The council agreed to support the request for a more detailed report into the cost. It was stated that the report would be ready by February at the earliest.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 10-15)

The building of a stand alone stadium at Portaferry Road was touched on at the Council Services Committee meeting on 20th January 2009.

Council officers were asked to obtain information on a recently proposed development at Moyola Park FC in Castledawson.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 6-7)

A meeting of Council Services on 18th March 2009 agreed to defer the Leisure Services report on upgrading sports facilities to a special meeting to be held on 1st April 2009.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 7-8)

A special meeting of Council Services on 1st April 2009 voted to approve the upgrading of Londonderry Park, to include an arena for use by the community.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 1-12)

A meeting of the full Council on 29th April 2009 voted unanimously to accept the committee recommendation that Londonderry Park be upgraded and that the Council initiates a meeting with relevant stakeholders.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 3-5)

A meeting of Council Services on 20th October 2009 agreed that the Council should apply for planning permission for the Londonderry Park upgrade and that, in principle, the Council should support the scheme in its entirety.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 5-6)

At a meeting of the Council Service Committee on 20th April 2010 permission was given for the commencement of ground works at Londonderry Park.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 9-10)

A small query on the costs of developing Londonderry Park was tabled at the Council Services Committee meeting of 15th June 2010.

Minutes of the meeting (see page 8)

The Council agreed to accept a tender for phase 1 of the re-development of Londonderry Park at its meeting on 29th September 2010.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 23-24)

At a meeting of the Council Services committee on 5th December 2011, the council agreed, in light of the current delays at Londonderry Park, to look again at the feasibility of providing an arena on the land adjacent to the Floodgates, which had previously been given planning permission for a stadium.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 16-18)

At a meeting of the Council Services Committee on 20th November 2012, a presentation was made by Ards FC chairman Brian Adams, along with Manus Magill of Copious, expressing the club's interest in leasing council-owned land at The Floodgates for the purpose of developing a football stadium.

Minutes of the meeting (see pages 1-4)

Council minutes require Adobe Reader - download it here

updated
7th January 2013