Sinn Féin opposes BBC involvement in new Belfast attraction
Belfast StoriesSinn Féin has said it is opposed to the BBC becoming an "anchor tenant" at a new visitor attraction in Belfast city centre.
The £100m development, entitled Belfast Stories, is due to open by 2030.
It will be based at the site of the former Bank of Ireland building at the Royal Avenue/North Street junction, and use words, pictures and sounds to illustrate the city's past, present and future.
Included in the plan is an event space which the BBC, and other organisations, could potentially use as a TV studio.
Council have had discussions had with the BBC
Opposition to the BBC was expressed at the most recent meeting of Belfast City Council by Sinn Féin's Áine McCabe.
She said: "I'm astounded that the majority in this chamber think the possibility of the BBC as an anchor tenant as part of the flagship civic project Belfast Stories is the way forward for such a project in our city, led by Belfast City Council."
She was then interrupted by a senior council official who said discussion of the matter should take place in private, and members of the media were asked to leave the chamber.
Issues which involve commercial and financial matters are usually debated behind closed doors until final decisions are made.
Belfast City Council later confirmed talks with the BBC but in a statement did not use the term 'anchor tenant'.
A spokesperson said: "Belfast City Council has had discussions with the BBC about how they can support the creative sector in the proposed event space at Belfast Stories.
"These discussions are ongoing and involve some commercial sensitivities.
"Elected members agreed at March's council meeting that a report on the potential operating model of the event space at Belfast Stories be brought back to committee."
On the council's website, the plan for Belfast Stories includes room for a 'studio/event space'.
A BBC spokesperson said: "We are exploring our potential role in Belfast Stories, seeking to maximise its benefits for the creative economy and BBC audiences. These conversations are ongoing."
Sinn Féin has not explained in public its opposition to the BBC's involvement.
A spokesperson said the party would not be making any comment until an agreement had been reached at the council.
The aim is to begin construction of Belfast Stories in 2027.
Plans to turn the old building, which dates back to the 1920s, into a modern visitor attraction were first revealed five years ago.
Once completed, it is hoped Belfast Stories might attract around 700,000 visitors a year.
The comments by McCabe suggest that in spite of Sinn Féin opposition, a majority of parties support the BBC's involvement in the project.
If the council agreed to lease the event space for use as a TV studio on a set number of days then the BBC would have to pay for it. That would help meet the costs for the project.
Belfast Stories will create a second major attraction in the city along with the Titanic Belfast visitor centre.
