Plans for the club’s proposed new stadium at Movilla High School have been presented to fans and other interested parties as part of the first phase of public consultation.

Shareholders at the club’s Annual General Meeting last week were given an overview of the the scheme’s status by chairman Brian Adams. Mr Adams noted that there had been several unsuccessful attempts to bring the club home in recent years which had all fallen for various reasons.

Regarding Movilla, Mr Adams explained that the school would have daily access to the new facilities and that discussions with school governors had been positive, hence the club were now ready to bring the plans to the public.

The proposal, he explained, would be for a modest, compact stadium with a capacity of 2000 people. The Premiership standard ground would incorporate a 3G pitch, floodlighting and spectator stands and have parking for 60 cars. No social club is planned for the site. A 25 year lease on the site had been proposed and the project had been costed at £950 000, of which the club would expect to finance 20% and grant funding would be sought for the remainder.

A period of public engagement by the club is now underway which has included advisory letters to residents in the immediate vicinity and a public meeting that was held on 26th May in the British Legion halls.

Anyone who wishes to comment on the proposals or obtain further information is asked to do so via the project planners Hamilton Architects, 3 Joy Street, Belfast, BT2 8LE. Please note that as no planning application has been submitted, comments should NOT be sent to Ards & North Down Borough Council.