Council to acquire Drumahoe site

A meeting of the Council's Development Committee considered local education chief Barry Mulholland's formal notice to Derry City Council that WELB will not be transferring land at nil cost because the department was concerned at the precedent this might set.

In a letter to Town Clerk Valerie Watts the Western Education and Library Board chief confirmed the DE Investment Infrastructure Directorate had been in touch over the Council's request to have the vacant land transferred to Derry City Council free-of-charge.

He wrote: "In this DE states its support for the original decision by WELB following on from the Services Committee meeting of 24 June 2009.

"DE affirmed that the land should not be transferred at nil cost. They cite the Board decision to be firmly within the Disposal Guidelines on Public Sector Property in Northern Ireland.

"They are also concerned at the potential precedent such a transfer may present. Taking all this into account the Board will not be in a position to transfer these lands to Derry city council at nil cost."

Unanimous disappointment was expressed at Tuesday's meeting that state-owned property left dormant for a number of years could not be transferred for the benefit of the community in Drumahoe and the Waterside in general.

Speaking at the meeting long-term advocate for a transfer DUP Alderman Drew Thompson said the Council previously agreed to use part of the local authority's capital budget to pay for the land should a free transfer request fail.

"Prior to the rates estimates we did agree we could take funding from the capital fund if that was required. The land needs to be brought under control of the Council now. I would propose that we regain these lands as early as possible - not three or four years from now - but in a couple of months," said Mr Thompson.

UUP Alderman Mary Hamilton concurred with this saying the land needs to be brought under council control as soon as possible.

Waterside SDLP Councillor Gerard Diver said it was "ludicrous" one branch of government could not transfer a piece of public property to another branch for community benefit. He said it was neither "right, appropriate or just."

Sinn Fin councillor Lynn Fleming agreed that the Council go ahead and acquire the land as soon as it could.

The committee agreed to approve a recommendation by the Town Clerk Valerie Watts to proceed with the purchase of the land.

Though Deputy Town Clerk John Meehan added the caveat - arising from a proposal by SDLP councillor Helen Quigley that the Council "try a peppercorn rent proposal rather than be out of capital funding" - that the possibilities of acquiring the land on a peppercorn rent or a long term lease also be explored.

In February the Sentinel reported Education Minister Caitrona Ruane's view that the school site would be sold on the open market,

The Minister stated that WELB had advised her of its intention to dispose of the site in this manner.

The Minister also pointed out how WELB does not have the authority to gift land to any organisation without the approval of the Department of Education.