Latest news with #DerryCityCouncil
Belfast Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Where was the forward planning?': Traffic ‘chaos' raises questions over pause in Derry city roadworks for The Open and not Foyle Cup
The traffic 'chaos' on Monday has led to further questions over a moratorium on roadworks, with one local politician calling for an immediate halt to the works. Images shared online show traffic bumper to bumper on the Foyle Bridge, with one car appearing to get stuck in the central reservation as it attempted to perform a U-turn. Members of the public have reported seeing numerous drivers doing the same manoeuvre to avoid being stuck in traffic for an hour or more. The Foyle Cup, which began in 1992, has grown exponentially to become one of the major annual events in the city, with almost 1,000 teams and some 20,000 players competing. With matches taking place across the length and breadth of the city — accommodating the teams, coaches, families and supporters attending — there is a build-up of traffic in the area. The competition, now in its 33rd year, has previously featured the likes of James McLean, Shay Given, Robbie Keane and John O'Shea as youth players. Teams are welcomed from the Republic, Great Britain, Europe and North America. This year, South African side Sports Academy George are first-time competitors at the tournament. However, it emerged that while roadworks were paused for The Open, which recently took place on the North Coast, no such measures were put in place ahead of the Foyle Cup. Works were taking place in a number of major inner city roads on the first day of the football tournament, including on one of the busiest roads in the city, from Madam's Bank to the Foyle Bridge and Culmore. Further works are scheduled to take place on Queen's Quay, which could compound problems. Tournament organisers themselves also hit out at the situation on social media, saying the traffic in the city was 'chaotic'. 'Roadworks stopped last week in the Derry City Council area because there was a golf tournament happening for four days last week 40 miles away,' they wrote. 'We need MLAs to sort out traffic flow in Derry and in Balkykelly now.' Eamon O'Donnell of North West Taxi Proprietors told BBC Radio Foyle 'it was chaos' for taxi drivers in the city, with the likes of Strathfoyle cut off entirely, as drivers can not afford to be stuck for more than an hour travelling across either the Foyle or Craigavon Bridges. He added: 'Here was an opportunity to showcase the city and to support traffic management. It just created chaos. For the taxi industry, it had a massive impact. 'Basically, we were struggling to cover bookings due to the delays. People were missing hospital appointments, doctor's appointments, people were late for work. 'People started double-booking taxis, thinking the taxis weren't coming, tying up all their taxis. He added: 'There should have been moratorium on roadworks across the city, the same as we have for the Clipper and other things. 'It should have been [the whole] the place, the Queen's Quay — all of that there needs to be put off this week to free the city up.' Asked why roadworks would be paused for The Open and not a local event, he said the organisers of The Open must have been proactive in making that request, prompting him to question why Foyle politicians and other stakeholders in the city did not do the same. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has urged the Infrastructure Minister to urgently suspend all planned roadworks in Derry for the remainder of the week. 'It is hard to understand, never mind explain, how there was a moratorium on roadworks for The Open last week, despite the event taking place in Portrush, some 40 miles away. Yet this week, during one of Derry's biggest annual events, traffic is crawling across the city, causing widespread disruption,' he said. 'This gridlock is not just impacting players and families trying to make matches on time, but it's affecting all road users. 'The Foyle Cup is a well-established, annual tournament that brings thousands of visitors into the city. Where was the forward planning to accommodate that? It's simply not good enough.' NI Water said it is laying new wastewater infrastructure on Madam's Bank Road to support new development in the city, with sewer improvements also planned to get underway this week on Queens Quay. The projects were scheduled to take place during the summer months to minimise disruption to school traffic. 'Following the cessation of works last week on Madam's Bank Road to accommodate The Open golf tournament, and the postponement of work on Queens Quay this week to facilitate the Foyle Cup parade, we have taken on board the latest concerns regarding recent traffic disruption and have been liaising with our contractors to determine what measures can be put in place at this stage to alleviate the congestion,' a spokesperson said. 'NI Water can confirm that pipelaying has been stopped on Madam's Bank Road for the remainder of this week. As of early Tuesday, July 22, morning, traffic management on Madam's Bank Road will be reduced to one lane around where the road has already been excavated for the new pipe. Watch as Donegal couple rescued from flash flooding at caves in Fermanagh 'This will leave two lanes on Madam's Bank Road, on the approach to Culmore Road roundabout, open to traffic. 'Traffic management will also be removed from Culmore Road and Foyle Bridge for the remainder of this week in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion in the area. Pipelaying work will recommence on Monday, July 28, with the necessary traffic management reinstated.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Factory girls feel 'airbrushed' out of tribute artwork
Some former shirt factory workers in Londonderry have said they feel "airbrushed" out of an artwork created in their honour as it does not depict actual £187,000 design is based on the shape of spools of thread as used in the shirt factories of Derry, which was a world leader in shirt production for much of the last century with the factory girls the driving City and Strabane District Council said it had fully engaged with the women who worked in the factories and described it is a "fitting tribute", but some of them is just the latest controversy over plans for a permanent tribute to the shirt factory girls, which have continued for 20 years. The new artwork is part of a wider public realm scheme at Harbour Square, near the Guildhall, that was funded by the Department for the Communities (DfC). 'Lost Opportunity' Clare Moore was 15-years-old when she started working in the City told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme she felt the artwork was not representative of the level of female involvement in the industry."The factory girls just didn't make quality shirts that went around the world, they kept Derry afloat for generations."This gesture fell way short of what we hoped for – we feel airbrushed out of it."There was no meaningful consultation." Factory girls 'integral' to the process The artist Chris Wilson said he did "all he could" to ensure the factory girls' views were incorporated into his creative process, which took two Wilson said some of them told him they like the sculpture and were very "on board" with it."I think the artwork does acknowledge the skill of the factory workers," he said, adding that the sculpture was "gender neutral". Female Visibility Anya Pearson is the trustee and founder of Visible Women UK and co-ordinated the project which led to a statue of palaeontologist Mary Anning being unveiled in Lyme Regis in 2022."This was such a brilliant opportunity to give the women of Derry an actual statue that represented them," she told BBC News NI."Fifty percent of our population are women, but when you look at civic monuments, 95 per cent of them are to named men."It is a symbolic annihilation of women within our landscapes." In a statement, a spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said it had fully engaged throughout all stages of the process with local representatives from the factory girls.A council spokesperson said a date for the formal launch had yet to be confirmed, but it was hoped it would be soon. Why has it taken so long to erect the sculpture? A different factory girls sculpture was shelved back in 2018 when councillors were told it would cost more than £330,000 to that time Stormont's Department for Communities, which funded the project, said it no longer represented value for Louise Walsh had started work on the factory girls artwork in sculpture was beset by problems since being commissioned by the then Derry City was to be located at King Street in the was then changed to Harbour Square due to planning problems and the move required a redesign of the original piece that meant costs cost £85,000 of public money before the unfinished work was for this new piece of public art were announced in 2020.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will the lights ever come back on at a £1m piece of public art?
It was to be the near £1m piece of public art symbolising Londonderry's transition from a city of conflict to a capital of culture. Mute Meadow, a series of illuminated steel columns on the banks of the Foyle, was unveiled in 2011. But since the lights went out more than a decade ago, its pillars have been left to gather rust. Now, its artists are calling for it to be repaired, restored and reinstated "for the people of the city". Vong Phaophanit, a Turner prize nominee and his co-creator, Claire Oboussier told BBC News NI it is "regrettable that no action has been taken" in the years since the lights went out. Derry City and Strabane District Council, which manages the artwork, said design work for the repair has been completed. Work is now underway to identify the required budget, the council added. That cost has not been made public. The Executive Office, owners of the Ebrington site on which it stands, "will consider a contribution" when it is made aware of the cost. Sitting at the Ebrington end of the city's Peace Bridge, Mute Meadow consists of 40 angled steel columns. The intention was that the steel pillars would be illuminated by LED projectors and lit up in the colours of the stain glass windows of the city's Guildhall. It was designed to create a "vast field of light" across the River Foyle. Costing £800,000, and funded by Stormont, then Arts Minister Gregory Campbell said it would "place arts and culture at the centre of the city's regeneration". Maurice Devenney, Derry's then mayor, said then that it "reflects positively how the city is moving forward" as it prepared for its year as UK City of Culture. It was at the time, the largest piece of public art on the island of Ireland. But right from the off it was dogged by problems. Within months of being switched on, the lights went out due to issues associated with the fabrication of the work. It was fixed temporarily but by 2014, the lights had gone again. Mute Meadow has by and large, remained in the dark ever since. It is now more like "an unfinished building site" than a million pound artwork, SDLP councillor Rory Farrell told BBC News NI. "People don't know what it's meant to be, it is an eyesore," he said. At a time when budgets are tight and a number of local groups have lost out on core funding, Farrell said he understands the repair work may not be everyone's priority. "But I for one want to see this operational, it would add to out cultural offering and transform the landscape along the river," he said. The hundreds of people to cross the city's Peace bridge daily pass just yards from Mute Meadows' metal pillars. Mark Froydenlund told BBC Radio Foyle he knows the nearby steel pillars are "some kind of sculpture". The cost seems "expensive" given it doesn't work, he said, adding "they should get it working". Maurice Hudson and Deirdre Watson from Belfast are staying in a hotel just a few hundred yards from Mute Meadow. Neither "had a clue" the artwork existed or what the steel columns are for. Maurice said there are other priorities "like the state of our national health service." Deirdre agreed, adding money could be spent "a better way, for things like housing". But Maurice added, when a lot of money has already been spent, the lights should be on. "With the people of Derry/Londonderry not having to pay for the electric," Deirdre added. Billy Quigley tells the BBC he has "no idea" the steel beams at the end of the Peace bridge were intended to be a work of art. "That is wasted money," he said, adding the money spent thus far could "have gone to better causes". In a statement, Phaophanit and Oboussier said there seemed to have been a lack of care around their artwork. The artists hope that "proactive action" is taken to repair the piece and reinstate it for the city. Mute Meadow, the artists said, was "one of our most challenging and meaningful pieces of work to realise". "Our hope and intention was that it would make an enduring contribution to the Derry cityscape - a positive and peaceful space where people could gather, somewhere where Derry citizens could continue to develop a sense of collective belonging for years to come." The artists said they remain committed to help in any way they can. The council said a concept design has been completed to restore the artwork's lighting. "Council is currently working to identify adequate budget to deliver the works," a spokeswoman said. The cost of those works is due to be presented to councillors in the coming months. "Council will also continue to work with The Executive Office to find a lasting solution for the long-term future of the artwork." The Executive Office (TEO) said it is also supportive of the work needed to repair it. "We understand a concept design exists for relighting the artwork and a cost estimate has been compiled. On receipt of costs from council we will consider a contribution," a TEO spokesperson said.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mute Meadow: Will the broken artwork's lights ever come back on?
It was to be the near £1m piece of public art symbolising Londonderry's transition from a city of conflict to a capital of Meadow, a series of illuminated steel columns on the banks of the Foyle, was unveiled in since the lights went out more than a decade ago, its pillars have been left to gather its artists are calling for it to be repaired, restored and reinstated "for the people of the city". Vong Phaophanit, a Turner prize nominee and his co-creator, Claire Oboussier told BBC News NI it is "regrettable that no action has been taken" in the years since the lights went City and Strabane District Council, which manages the artwork, said design work for the repair has been is now underway to identify the required budget, the council cost has not been made Executive Office, owners of the Ebrington site on which it stands, "will consider a contribution" when it is made aware of the cost. What is Mute Meadow? Sitting at the Ebrington end of the city's Peace Bridge, Mute Meadow consists of 40 angled steel intention was that the steel pillars would be illuminated by LED projectors and lit up in the colours of the stain glass windows of the city's was designed to create a "vast field of light" across the River £800,000, and funded by Stormont, then Arts Minister Gregory Campbell said it would "place arts and culture at the centre of the city's regeneration".Maurice Devenney, Derry's then mayor, said then that it "reflects positively how the city is moving forward" as it prepared for its year as UK City of was at the time, the largest piece of public art on the island of Ireland. But right from the off it was dogged by problems. Within months of being switched on, the lights went out due to issues associated with the fabrication of the was fixed temporarily but by 2014, the lights had gone Meadow has by and large, remained in the dark ever since. 'Unfinished building site' It is now more like "an unfinished building site" than a million pound artwork, SDLP councillor Rory Farrell told BBC News NI."People don't know what it's meant to be, it is an eyesore," he a time when budgets are tight and a number of local groups have lost out on core funding, Farrell said he understands the repair work may not be everyone's priority."But I for one want to see this operational, it would add to out cultural offering and transform the landscape along the river," he said. What do people think of Mute meadow? The hundreds of people to cross the city's Peace bridge daily pass just yards from Mute Meadows' metal Froydenlund told BBC Radio Foyle he knows the nearby steel pillars are "some kind of sculpture".The cost seems "expensive" given it doesn't work, he said, adding "they should get it working". Maurice Hudson and Deirdre Watson from Belfast are staying in a hotel just a few hundred yards from Mute "had a clue" the artwork existed or what the steel columns are said there are other priorities "like the state of our national health service." Deirdre agreed, adding money could be spent "a better way, for things like housing".But Maurice added, when a lot of money has already been spent, the lights should be on."With the people of Derry/Londonderry not having to pay for the electric," Deirdre added. Billy Quigley tells the BBC he has "no idea" the steel beams at the end of the Peace bridge were intended to be a work of art."That is wasted money," he said, adding the money spent thus far could "have gone to better causes". 'Enduring contribution to the cityscape' In a statement, Phaophanit and Oboussier said there seemed to have been a lack of care around their artists hope that "proactive action" is taken to repair the piece and reinstate it for the city. Mute Meadow, the artists said, was "one of our most challenging and meaningful pieces of work to realise"."Our hope and intention was that it would make an enduring contribution to the Derry cityscape - a positive and peaceful space where people could gather, somewhere where Derry citizens could continue to develop a sense of collective belonging for years to come."The artists said they remain committed to help in any way they can. What next for Mute Meadow? The council said a concept design has been completed to restore the artwork's lighting."Council is currently working to identify adequate budget to deliver the works," a spokeswoman cost of those works is due to be presented to councillors in the coming months."Council will also continue to work with The Executive Office to find a lasting solution for the long-term future of the artwork."The Executive Office (TEO) said it is also supportive of the work needed to repair it."We understand a concept design exists for relighting the artwork and a cost estimate has been compiled. On receipt of costs from council we will consider a contribution," a TEO spokesperson said.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Londonderry: Rat sightings fall as investigations continues
Rat sightings have dropped on Londonderry's riverfront, which had been plagued by large numbers of the rodents earlier this City and Strabane District Council said environmental health experts had visited Queen's Quay on Tuesday and had not observed any number of rodent reports received from the public over recent days has also fallen, the local authority week, a pest control expert warned a huge number of rats were enjoying a "five star all-inclusive holiday" on Derry's quay. At that time, pest control business owner Patricia Page said an area of the quay had become home to a "significant rat infestation"."They have all their needs, it's like a five star all-inclusive holiday for them, they have even got the sunshine," she told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today of rats were first spotted on the quay - an area popular with families, walkers and cyclists – in early May, with many videos of the rodents being shared on social media. The council said environment health officers had revisited the area on Tuesday as part of ongoing a spokeswoman said, they were looking at the "potential sites providing harbourage to rodents"."Officers have been liaising with local businesses in the area who have been proactively working to introduce a range of measures to deter rodents, and further works are planned to reduce the shrubbery growth providing shelter," the spokeswoman council is asking the public to continue to adhere to the public health guidance around the disposal of food and rubbish to "help ensure the problem does not reoccur".
