£120m CoC13 figure counts normal capital investments

The Council boss said last month: “We reckon that about £120 million worth of capital investment has accrued from the City of Culture project.”

Council says it has included routine investments as part of the £120m. It also lumps in £14.5m spent on the Peace Bridge, although work on the bridge started in early 2010, before the city had even been awarded City of Culture status.

The awarding body - London’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport - doesn’t contribute a penny. All the money is being diverted from the Executive’s coffers.

A Council spokesperson said that in the run up to UK City of Culture there had been very substantial infrastructural investment across the city in excess of £120m.

“Projects include investment in the railway (£27m), construction of the Peace Bridge (£14.5m), transformation of Ebrington Square (£7.2m), public realm (£16m), and restoration of the Guildhall (£9.5m). On the cultural side, a further £4.6m was spent on the construction of the Venue 2013, £3m on the Cultural Capital Fund (for refurbishment of venues throughout the Derry City Council area), and £2.5m on the Creative Hub at Ebrington. There has been significant investment in the East Bank Greenway Project, the Walled City Lighting Scheme (£1.4m), Walled City Built Heritage Programme (£5.4m), Dereliction Improvement Scheme (£0.5m) and significant investment in event space projects such as the proposed North West Region Sports Centre and the St Columb’s Park outdoor arena,” the spokesperson stated.