CoC legacy plan must be produced urgently

Hot air balloons in the sky above Derry city on Friday at 6.30am, the longest day of the year, each equiped with its own' Sky Orchestra' sound system, created by Luke Jerram for Music City day in the UK City of Culture. Picture Margaret McLaughlin © by-line 21-6-13 see news stories

The Minister said a draft plan was developed by Derry City council but more work is needed.

She has previously underlined her view that significant investment in the Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 needed to be used to make a real difference to the city long term.

She has indicated that wages must rise here, jobs must be created in poorer areas, the city must be more equal, there must be better relations between Protestants and Catholics and people must be happier to live here otherwise Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 will have been a failure.

The Minister said that whilst a draft plan has been produced “further work is required to develop specific actions, structures and targets.”

“I have informed the Council’s Town Clerk and CEO, who is also the project’s Senior Responsible Owner, that I expect the Legacy plan to be prioritised and finalised as soon as possible,” she explained.

“A suite of stakeholder workshops are currently being held by the Council to seek input on the City of Culture legacy.

“Public consultation will begin with a Legacy Conference in the city on 5 July and will last 12 weeks. Derry City Council will be detailing how the public can get involved in the coming weeks. I would encourage local stakeholders to fully participate in this process,” she added.

The Minister has previously explained that the impact of the first ever UK City of Culture will be measured between 2013 and 2020 and that a specific set of targets will need to have been met otherwise the whole thing will have been a waste of time and money.

Her sister Department in England - the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which awarded the title to Londonderry back in 2010 - insist that key objectives for 2013 are the delivery of a high quality cultural programme and lasting social regeneration.