Heritage chair pleased with barracks clean up

Dr Nuala McAllister Hart, Chairman of the Foyle Civic Trust, made the comments after assurances were given by the ILEX regeneration company that the clean up would take place as part of the development of a new ‘Vital Venue’ on the site.

The Trust wrote to ILEX Chief Executive Aideen McGinley in late June after receiving a number of phone calls from members of the public regarding the “condition of the area to the rear of the former Ebrington Barracks.”

Dr McAllister Hart had pointed out that this area had “a neglected appearance, with heaps of rubbish, debris and many broken paving stones.”

And that whilst the Parade Ground and Barracks had received a much needed renovation other areas of the huge site had an “air of abandonment.”

She asked whether ILEX had any plans for a clean-up operation of the environs.

ILEX has now confirmed that a clean-up and landscaping operation will soon take place.

A spokesperson for ILEX said the company replied to the Foyle Civic Trust in July and that it would be conducting a clean-up as part of the development of the new ‘Vital Venue’ in the space bounded by Limavady Road, St Columb’s Road and Building 80-81.

ILEX has already applied for permission to build the huge new auditorium in Ebrington with bars and seating for over 2k people.

The work is expected to be completed in the late summer/early autumn in time for Londonderry City of Culture 2013.

Dr McAllister said the Foyle Civic Trust was delighted that this work was going ahead.and looked forward to seeing the results.

She stated: “We did contact Ilex-urc with our concerns regaring the rear of Ebrington and received a timely and detailed reply to our query. We are delighted that a clean up will commence in the autumn and look forward to the results which will be compled before the start of CoC 2013.”