Press Release

City Walls Conservation Plan seeks public views

14th November 2005

Partners from the Walled City Signature Project have issued a public invitation to share views about the preservation, protection and future use of the City Walls.

Derry City Council and the DOE Environment and Heritage Service have commissioned Alastair Coey Architects, a specialist conservation practice, to prepare a Conservation Plan for the City Walls. The specialist team will be available in the Tower Hotel on Thursday 17th November at 7:30pm to listen to the public’s comments and views.

Explaining the purpose of a conservation plan, Alastair Coey stated that Conservation planning is now an accepted essential tool where complex issues need to be considered; “The Conservation Plan for the Walls of Derry will assist a wide audience to appreciate their essential importance through identifying what really makes them distinctive, what the challenges are to their continuing existence and agreeing, with all who have a vested interest, a range of policies which will ensure their continuing presence into the future”.

Other European walled cities, such as Luca in Tuscany, have been quicker to realise their walls can be used as an asset around which to plan development. Currently the walls are one of the largest scheduled monuments in state care in Northern Ireland and they have received major investment from the Environment of Heritage Service over the past ten years to maintain their fabric. The conservation plan will bring a balanced view of increased use with minimal risk to the City Walls as a heritage monument. The organisers of the public meeting are particularly keen that community organisations, special interest groups and business organisations attend.

Mark Lusby, Senior Economic Development Officer with the Council explained that due care must be taken on the development of a heritage based tourism strategy for the city and the conservation plan will create an agreed basis which to guide this change and strategy.

“The Walls are not only a attraction for heritage buffs and tourists. They are also a key open space at the heart of our City and are used by people of all ages as a place to meet, walk and play. As the Walls also form part of the interface between neighbourhoods, their future management will be of interest to community organisations in the Bogside, Long Tower and Fountain. The Walls also present opportunities and constraints for property owners and businesses located within and adjacent to the City Walls. The public meeting is an opportunity for people to share their knowledge and shape the Conservation Plan for the Walls of Derry.”

The Walled City Signature Project is a joint initiative of Derry City Council, NITB, DOE Environment and Heritage Service, ILEX and DSD and is part-financed by the EU Peace and Reconciliation Fund and the OFMDFM Integrated Development Fund.

For more information regarding the public meeting please contact the Economic Development at Derry City Council on 028 7137 6506 or at www.derrycity.gov.uk/economicdevelopment

For additional information contact:

Press Office

return to previous page