Latest news with #DerryCityandStrabaneDistrictCouncil
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Play park arson attack 'sickening', says mother
An arson attack on a play park has been condemned as "sickening" by a mother who campaigned for it to include play equipment for disabled children. Claire McGill, a mother-of-three, said she was "shocked and sickened" after arsonists set fire to equipment at the play park in Strathfoyle, County Londonderry, on Wednesday evening. Her daughter, Sianon, who is a wheelchair-user with special needs, is among the children who use the park. The police confirmed that the fire on Wednesday night is being treated as arson. The play park is a popular spot for young families in the area, following years of campaigning by residents' groups for the facility. Residents, including Claire McGill, had successfully campaigned for disabled-friendly play equipment to be installed in 2022, after it was not included in the original plans. "It's just heartbreaking as a mum, because my kids, like many others, use the park regularly," she said. "I have a daughter with special needs, and all my kids use the park — it's a place we all go. "It's the kids across the whole area who are going to suffer from this sort of thing." Ms McGill said the arson attack was especially disappointing as it had been carried out in the run-up to summer. "This is meant to be a safe place for them to have fun. It's sad that this has happened and it's a shame for all the kids of Strathfoyle." The Northern Ireland Fire Service (NIFRS) said they were called to reports of a slide on fire at the park in the Beechwood Park area of Strathfoyle. They also confirmed it had been started deliberately. The park closed on Thursday, Derry City and Strabane District Council said, adding that substantial damage had been caused to some sections of the play area. The city's mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr said she was "appalled by this senseless act of vandalism". "The council is committed to restoring the park as quickly as possible and will keep the public informed of progress," Seenoi Barr added. The SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan condemned it as an attack on the local community. He also thanked firefighters whose swift response helped to limit the extent of the damage, and urged anyone with information to contact the police. "It's been so busy the last couple of weeks with the weather being so good," Durkan told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme. "This park in Strathfoyle was hard fought for and it has been much-loved for many years." He said it "defies belief" that anyone would consider it acceptable or tolerable to set part of it on fire.
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
City of Derry Airport: Stormont takes costs away from ratepayers
The executive will cover the multi-million-pound annual running costs of City of Derry Airport for the next four years, the economy minister has by Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC), running the airport costs almost £3.5m each year which has historically been covered by Minister Caoimhe Archibald said her department has now assumed responsibility, and will provide up to £3m annually in a deal that runs until added, the department's funding "will enable the airport to plan for future growth in the years ahead". "The airport is integral to the economic development of Northern Ireland's north west," Archibald assuming control of its running costs, she said, the council would now be able to focus funding on "supporting the north west's ongoing competitiveness and ability to trade, attract inward investment and inbound tourism". In January 2024, it was reported the airport was facing an estimated £729,000 shortfall, while three years previously the council warned it was facing "severe financial risk".Stormont has previously provided financial aid to the airport, including in October 2024 when the Department of Infrastructure said it was providing a £3m package for the Eglinton same month, then Economy Minister Conor Murphy, said the department intended to assume responsibility for the running costs from April 2025. Steve Frazer, the managing director of City of Derry Airport, said the four-year funding deal is "pivotal" for the airport's future stability."This announcement ensures we are well placed to continue supporting the region's ambitious growth plans and our continued contribution to the region's economy," he Mayor of Derry and Strabane Lilian Seenoi Barr said the council and airport can now "strategically plan" for the airport's development and airport "is a critical infrastructure asset that provides connectivity and is fundamental to business and tourism in the area", she added. Earlier this month it was announced direct flights between City of Derry Airport and London Heathrow will be subsidised by the Northern Ireland and UK governments for another two 2017, flights between Derry and London have been subsidised under a public service obligation (PSO).
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Derry to London flight route funding secured for two years
Direct flights between City of Derry Airport and London Heathrow will be subsidised by the Northern Ireland and UK governments for two years, Stormont's Department for the Economy has confirmed. Since 2017, flights between Derry and London have been subsidised under a public service obligation (PSO). The existing PSO expired at the end of March. On Wednesday, Northern Ireland's economy minister Caoimhe Archibald said joint government funding of £4.626m secures the route until 2027. "This route plays a vital role in providing the north west with connectivity to other parts of Europe and the rest of the world through the PSO route to London Heathrow," Archibald said. The minister added that the Derry airport acts as "as a catalyst for the local and regional economy by providing enhanced air connectivity and tourism benefits", adding it also contributes to economic growth in the north west region. PSO air routes see the government support flights which would not be commercially viable without state support. The City of Derry to London PSO route, operated by Loganair, is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. The SDLP Assembly Member for Foyle, Sinéad McLaughlin, said the continuation of the service was a "a vital investment in our economy". "This route provides a crucial link not only to London but also to wider international markets, helping local businesses expand and ensuring that Derry remains globally connected," she said. Sinn Féin councillor Sandra Duffy welcomed the announcement and said the north west had "huge potential to be a thriving economic hub". "Today marks another step forward in building a fairer economy for all, with investment and opportunities fairly spread across the island," Duffy said. Meanwhile, Archibald's department also confirmed it has prepared a business case to provide Derry City and Strabane District Council with funding to cover the airport's running costs for the next four years. The airport is owned by the council and it costs ratepayers more than £3m to help pay operational costs. In October 2024, then economy minister Conor Murphy said his department intended to assume responsibility for multi-million-pound annual running costs. Now a department spokesman said: "A business case to provide funding to Derry City and Strabane District Council from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2029 has been prepared by DfE and is now going through the relevant approval process." The council has previously raised concerns over future funding. Stormont aims to fund Derry airport from 2025 Future funding concerns over City of Derry Airport
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Derry to London flight route funding secured for two years
Direct flights between City of Derry Airport and London Heathrow will be subsidised by the Northern Ireland and UK governments for two years, Stormont's Department for the Economy has 2017, flights between Derry and London have been subsidised under a public service obligation (PSO).The existing PSO expired at the end of Wednesday, Northern Ireland's economy minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said joint government funding of £4.626m secures the route until 2027. "This route plays a vital role in providing the north west with connectivity to other parts of Europe and the rest of the world through the PSO route to London Heathrow," Archibald minister added that the Derry airport acts as "as a catalyst for the local and regional economy by providing enhanced air connectivity and tourism benefits", adding it also contributes to economic growth in the north west air routes see the government support flights which would not be commercially viable without state City of Derry to London PSO route, operated by Loganair, is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, Archibald's department also confirmed it has prepared a business case to provide Derry City and Strabane District Council with funding to cover the airport's running costs for the next four airport is owned by the council and it costs ratepayers more than £3m to help pay operational October 2024, then economy minister Conor Murphy said his department intended to assume responsibility for multi-million-pound annual running a department spokesman said: "A business case to provide funding to Derry City and Strabane District Council from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2029 has been prepared by DfE and is now going through the relevant approval process."The council has previously raised concerns over future funding.
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Derry and Strabane: Ratepayers foot £45K Christmas vandalism bill
Ratepayers in the north west will have to pick up the bill of almost £50,000 for the repairs to Christmas decorations damaged by vandals in Londonderry and Wednesday, Derry City and Strabane District Council's environment committee approved a payment of £45,274 to cover the cost of vandalism over the festive at Derry's Waterloo Place, Guildhall Square and Ebrington Square and in Strabane and Castlederg were all damaged in separate incidents, the committee was told.A council report also recommended setting aside a further £40,000 to cover the cost of potential repairs this Christmas. Speaking at the meeting, Ulster Unionist councillor Derek Hussey asked if employing security staff for Christmas trees would be a more cost effective option for the local said footing the repair bills "prevents other provision that we as a council could be and should be providing throughout the area".Councillors were told that netting had been placed on the trees outside the Guildhall and at Waterloo Place to act as a further damage was caused by people climbing into the council's report reveals that it cost more than £30,000 to repair the damage to those two trees alone. Decorations in the centre of Londonderry have been vandalised repeatedly over recent report said "it would be prudent to set aside £40k" to cover cost of Christmas decoration vandalism in the coming also confirmed that over the festive period of 2021/22, the council had paid more than £47,000 to repair damage to Christmas that time, the then mayor of the city warned that the council was debating whether barricades could be erected around the civic decorations. The council said it was receiving reports of damage "on a daily basis". 'Thoughtless, careless and irresponsible people' At Wednesday's meeting, the ongoing seasonal damage was widely councillor John Boyle said ratepayers were covering a needless cost due to "a minority of people who can't leave things alone"."It is important the message goes out to people, please just leave these things alone, let everyone have nice things," Boyle councillor Julie Middleton said people, many of whom struggle to pay their rates , were being forced to pay for the "actions of a small minority of thoughtless, careless and irresponsible people", while Sinn Féin's Emma McGinley said she was "disgusted"."Those people who go out and decide to ruin things other people really enjoy want to catch themselves on," she said.
