(William Scholes, Irish News)

Sinn Féin's controversial plan to turn part of the Maze Prison into a museum has moved a step closer after the Department of the Environment (DoE) said it would consider a request to list buildings at the site.

A senior conservation architect from the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), which has the power to recommend that buildings of architectural or historic significance should be listed, is to carry out a preliminary survey of buildings at the Maze and Long Kesh sites.

The EHS's decision to consider listing the buildings follows a request made last month by Lisburn councillor and former Maze prisoner Paul Butler on behalf of Sinn Féin and the republican ex-prisoners group Coiste na-Iarchimi.

If the architect deems the prison complex to have "special architectural or historic interest", an extensive survey of the interior and exterior of the buildings will take place.

In a letter to Mr Butler, the EHS explained that a forum of senior conservation architects will consider the survey report.

"If their recommendation is to list then the statutory consultation process will commence," it wrote.

"Under the Planning (NI) Order 1991 the department must consult with the Historic Buildings Council and the local council.

"Only after these consultations are concluded will a final decision be taken."

The process takes between six and eight months.

Mr Butler said the EHS decision to consider listing the site was "a step in the right direction in bringing some legal protection of the buildings that make up Long Kesh".

"Long Kesh is on a standing with Robben Island, Auschwitz and the Berlin Wall and we cannot afford to lose that history," Mr Butler said.

"Long Kesh is the most fam-ous and infamous building of the conflict. Everybody in Ireland knows of it as do many people around the world.

"The importance that Long Kesh has had in the history of the conflict here should from part of the survey the EHS are to carry out on the buildings of the former prison.

"Long Kesh remains the ideal place to give future generations an understanding of the historical significance of the jail."

A consultation panel is pres-ently considering the future of the 360-acre Maze and Long Kesh site.

Republicans believe at least one of the prison's infamous H-blocks should be preserved as a reminder of a turbulent period of the north's history.

Unionists have maintained that the prison should be "razed to the ground".

This article appeared first in the August 21, 2003 edition of the Irish News.

This article appears thanks to the Irish News. Subscribe to the Irish News