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Conal O Mianain, 9 May
Derry City and Strabane District Council set to request a meeting with
the Department of Communities (DfC) about the lack of development
progress at the ex-Ministry Of Defence military base, Fort George.
At the council’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee meeting on
May 7, SDLP Councillor Rory Farrell raised an Officers’ report, on a
recent Strategic Growth Partnership meeting, which highlighted a lack
of progress in regenerating the former military base in Derry.
At a previous Committee meeting, last month, Cllr. Farrell proposed
writing to both then Minister for Economy, Conor Murphy, and the
Minister for Infrastructure, John O’Dowd, for updates on four key
Strategic Growth Partnership projects; Magee University expansion,
improved road infrastructure, enhanced rail services, and improved
connectivity and sustainability of City of Derry Airport.
“We look forward to the Ministerial responses regarding funding [for
the projects],” Cllr. Farrell said, “But there’s an aspect of the
Growth Plan which focuses on the regeneration of Ebrington and the
regeneration of Fort George.
“The transformation at Ebrington is clearly evident; we’ve got two
Grade A office blocks, a new hotel, many more hospitality businesses, a
significant planning application both residential and commercial, so
you can see the progress there.
“The progress at Fort George is not on that level.
“To see the site used to its full potential is something members and
people right across the city and district want, but we’re not seeing
much progress there at all.”
The council’s Chief Executive, John Kelpie, said an Officer meeting
with DfC to discuss Fort George was planned in the coming weeks, and
suggested inviting representatives to a Committee meeting to “present
on current issues, obstacles to progress and challenges”.
The Trust confirmed in January that it was now on Phase 2 of the
outline business case and is continuing to work with other
organisations to ensure road access and parking is agreed prior to work
starting on the ground.
The Trust paid ÂŁ1m for the Fort George site, and the hub project will
bring about major change in how medical services are delivered in
Derry, with the new facility bringing together a number of GP practices
on one site, as well as delivering a wide range of diagnostic and
treatment services for local people.
Initially, the project was expected to cost around ÂŁ70m but an updated
cost is expected to be included within the completed Phase 2 business
case.
A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust has
described the project as “a very exciting development for the Trust,
and one which we are confident will provide improved access to services
in a modern community setting to the benefit of the population of the
City and the surrounding areas”.