Ulster Union leader David Trimble talks to Estates Gazette’s Noella Pia Kivlehan about the future of the Maze prison and how the North can entice Dubliners to shop across the border
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David Trimble CV |
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One of the highlights of William David Trimble’s political career was undoubtably receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998. One of the low points, however, was a “back me or sack me vote” which he survived by 56 – within his party in May 2000 · MP for Upper Bann since 1990 · Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention 1975-1976 · Chairman, Lagan Valley Unionist Association 1985-90 · Chairman, Ulster Society 1985-90 · Leader, Ulster Unionist Party 1995 present · First Minister, Northern Ireland assembly 1998-2002 |
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and the party’s chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness, head a small entourage striding confidently through Westminster’s central lobby.
Moments later the political scene is reversed. From spotting one half of Northern Ireland’s political establishment, it is time to meet the other.
Weaving through Westminster’s maze of corridors, an eager personal assistant is leading the way to the office of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, and former Northern Ireland First Minister, David Trimble.
Sitting behind the desk in his large office, which boasts a close-up view of Big Ben, Trimble looks exactly the same as he does on television. A man used to the press, Trimble is courteous and polite as he gestures to the leather chair opposite him.
Yet another interview in his 23-year political career begins and today Trimble is ready to talk about the commercial property market.
The topic might not be politically intense, but with Northern Ireland’s political situation so intrinsically linked with every aspect of life in the Province, the subject is never far away.
Trimble realises this as he listens to the issues vexing the Province’s agents, architects and developers: planning, the future of the now empty Maze prison and derelict army bases, and cross-border co-operation.
Smiling expectantly, Trimble says he will do his best to answer any queries.
First, however, he has something he wants to talk about Gilford Mill. It is the irony of Northern Ireland’s politics that MPs switch from talking about terrorism and’ peace treaties to everyday “normal” issues. With his normal hat on, Trimble wants to promote the former 19th century linen mill, which is in his Upper Bann constituency, and was closed down just before he entered parliament in 1980.
Developer John Farmer is in the throes of turning the mill into a mixed-use factory outlet (see P74) that will create over 500 jobs and, not surprisingly, Trimble waxes lyrical about the benefits the outlet will bring to the area when it opens next spring.
Guaranteed peace is the key
But it is not long before the conversation turns political. One of the factors of Gilford Mill’s success will be the continuation of peace in Northern Ireland. Gilford Mill will need cross-border shoppers as the Province’s population is too small to support it. It is estimated that the centre will need around two million shoppers a week.
These shoppers will only come if there is guaranteed peace – and that has taken a knockback in the past few months.
Elections to reinstate the assembly, which were to take place this week, were cancelled in April, owing to the lack of a deal between the IRA, David Trimble’s Ulster Unionist Party and the British and Irish governments.
Northern Ireland’s assembly was dissolved on 14 October 2002, amid allegations of IRA intelligence-gathering at the heart of the Stormont government.
Some agents believe that the assembly’s absence is jeopardising the Province’s economy. One agent even expressed worry that it could affect BMAP -the Belfast Metropolitan Plan, already under way and due to be adopted in 2005.
“No harm to all the British ministers that come over here to look after the Province, but they don’t know what we need here.” Says one agent. Staring down at his hands, Trimble agrees something needs to be done.
“Obviously, political stability will help the economy. We have had a good decade in Northern Ireland and we have had record levels of employment, and unemployment is at an all time low. We want to sustain this, we don’t want to see political instability damaging it.
“We nearly got [the political situation] sorted out in this last wee while, and we didn’t quite succeed, and we have had to take time out as a result of that. I would be quite optimistic that we will get it back and get it back very quickly.”
And when the situation is sorted out, the first thing the agents want put in order is the Province’s planning system.
The continuing bugbear for agents is how slow the system is. Some schemes, such as Marks & Spencer’s 60,000 sq ft extension to the 250,000 sq ft Sprucefield shopping centre, took three years to get full planning.
Unlikely as it seems, the agents actually have an ally in Trimble. He has his own grumbles about the planning system. He says the only way one developer, looking to build to build in Trimble’s constituency, got planning permission was by doing “an awful lot of jumping up and down in ministers offices to get that decision out in time. So, does this mean the planning system is not the responsibility of assembly ministers?
No, not at all, says Trimble. He says the assembly put a lot of additional money into the Department of Environment for the planning services to build up staff to overcome some of the problems.
Trimble does point a finger at how fickle some of the planning applications can be. “If I had to make a call, it would be that people have got so worried about legal challenges and spemd so much time trying to make sure their decisions survive the judicial review that it is slowing the process down.” That is one of the big problems.”
Even so, he says the assembly will look carefully at seeing if there is some way of fast-tracking “important” decisions.
“The Article 31 procedure ought to have resulted in things being done more rapidly, especially for applications of major importance for a locality or for Northern Ireland as a whole. This is a particular problem that we need to focus on.”
Waterfront land
Only with planning rectified can another issue be solved. The IRA ceasefire in 1996 brought not only peace but the closure of several major army bases and the Maze prison.
For the past 18 months, there has been continuing debate about what will happen with the former Derry army bases, Fort George and Ebrington. The two sites occupy a total of 75 acres of prime waterfront land.
Then there is the infamous Maze prison, which added a further 260 acres to the Province’s property scene when it closed its doors almost three years ago.
Agents want to know what is going to happen to these sites.
Trimble agrees that they are sites of strategic significance, and he is keen that they are developed properly. “It would be a shame to see something that could make a major impact on the locality being frittered away on piecemeal developments.”
Of the Maze, 10 miles from Belfast and with an estimated commercial worth of around £I40m, he says: “It is a major site, not only because of its size, but because it is close to the developing regional centres of Sprucefield.
“Because of this, I am very anxious that the Maze site doesn’t end up turning a quick buck in terms of housing, but to see something goes there that will exploit the potential of the area as a whole.” Trimble adds that it will still be sometime “before the land is made available”.
As Trimble finishes, two types of bell interrupt his answer. Big Ben chimes, just as the MP’s mobile rings. The cal is from Ulster Television which needs him for the 6pm news bulletin. But, gesturing with his hand, he signals willingness to talk longer.
The final hurried question is about cross-border relations. Some agents are keen to improve these, hoping to further stimulate the economy in Northern Ireland.
Indeed, over the past few years agencies have been taking steps to establish themselves both north and south of the border.
Trimble says he has never had a problem with cross-border co-operation -as long as it is something that is genuinely mutual and leads to development.
Confident strides
Going back to the original topic of Gilford Mill, he says: “There are already agreements with the Republic for the improvements to the Belfast/Dublin road,” then adds that this will give Dubliners access to Gilford Mill.
Another call on his mobile means television is waiting impatiently, and so the interview ends.
Trimble leads the way back through Westminster and down through the central lobby. This time Trimble is the one making the confident strides, and although his only entourage is a journalist, still people stare at him. Outside, next to the line of tourist, he bids farewell and turns to march off to the green. Where yet another interview is waiting to start.
