Safe city centre awarded ‘Purple Flag’ status

It is amongst four towns and cities across Northern Ireland singled-out for helping people have a great night out, by being awarded Purple Flag status.

Jim Roddy, City Centre Manager said that he was delighted that the city has won this award as it once again highlights all the very hard work done to improve the image of Londonderry city centre.

“Our city centre has often been negatively portrayed but this application has undergone a very rigorous assessment process which today acknowledges that we are performing above standard expectations. It is vitally important that we do not rest on our laurels but indeed continue to examine ways of improving our city centre in both the evening and day time economies therefore attracting more visitors to our city centre,” he said.

The process was led by City Centre Initiative (CCI) in conjunction with its city centre partners.

Londonderry has been recognised for showing evening visitors an entertaining, diverse, and safe night out, and have brought Purple Flag accreditation to Northern Ireland for the first time.

Purple Flag is a town and city centre award - similar to the Blue Flag for beaches - backed by Government, police and business.

To achieve Purple Flag status towns and cities must be welcoming to everyone, offer safe ways for visitors to travel home, provide a good mix of venues and be appealing after dark.

Locally the project has been part funded by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB). Robert Cully, Director of Business Development at NITB commented: “We are thrilled to have Purple Flag in Northern Ireland and offer our congratulations to all involved.

“The development of our evening and night time economy is a key part of the 2020 Tourism Strategy. Northern Ireland tourism is entering an unprecedented time of opportunity and to have key visitor destinations supported by the Purple Flag quality scheme will help to transform our visitor experiences at night.”