School fields to be taken over

The council had hoped to be granted the WELB land at a nominal fee but this has been ruled out, amid warnings by the Education Minister that the site would be sold on the open market.

However, Mr Hay said that Derry City Council, having agreed to seek to lease the land or buy it outright, would take possession within weeks.

He added: "This has been a long time coming but the land should be in council hands in the next two or three weeks.

"There is 250,000 to secure it, and it will be used as playing fields, for the benefit of the local community and the wider community throughout the Waterside as well."

Mr Hay said residents had lobbied for the land to be secured for some time, and paid tribute to local community leaders.

He added: "DUP councillors saw this as a key issue, as it was the last green space in Drumahoe and it could have gone to the private sector.

"We acknowledge the work done by Drumahoe Community Association. The residents' group was very proactive in lobbying for this land to be retained for use by the community. Now that the land will be controlled by the council, it will form part of the sporting facilities for the future. The purchase will happen shortly and then we can look at how to develop the land for the good of all the community."

Mr Hay said that he would also pay tribute to work done by the Waterside Area Partnership, adding: "A special mention must go to Hilary McClintock, and also Drew Thompson."

While welcoming the move to take over the land, Mr Hay said that it should have happened much sooner.

"It was always obvious that the council was not going to get this land for next to nothing," he said.