By Alan Healy
Derry's council has failed to establish who owns the War Memorial in the Diamond after a row erupted over who should pay the £250,000 bill to restore it.
The Derry News revealed in May of last year that a survey had been undertaken by the local council five years ago, which revealed that the cost of restoring the monument would be £250,000
A meeting was told that the restoration would be 'highly specialised in nature’ and would include the installation of ‘anti-bird’ measures, a sonic system aimed at deterring birds from depositing droppings on the memorial.
It emerged at the time that council had two funding applications, one to the Department of Social Development (DSD) and another to the War Memorials Trust (WMT) for the restoration work ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
The DSD had told council that ‘that they might be in a position to support the environmental improvement works to the value of £75,000’, while the War Memorials Trust could possibly contribute £30,000.
Therefore council faced a shortfall of £150,000 to carry out the restoration.
Concerns were then raised over the cost of the restoration work to local ratepayers, which resulted in councillors agreeing to place a moratorium on the restoration work after a proposal from Sinn Fein, which prompted warnings from unionist councillors about the impact the move would have on ‘cross-community relations’.
This resulted the process being halted to allow council to look at ownership issues regarding the memorial and to also consider other memorials in the Council area and their treatment.
An update on the issue was received at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Business and Culture committee.
It emerged at the meeting that despite a year and half having passed since the issue was last discussed, council has not yet established who owns the Diamond War Memorial.
A report brought before the committee stated that council’s legal team had researched the matter and determined that council ‘has the powers to maintain and upkeep the memorials should Members consider this appropriate’.
The meeting was told these powers arise under the Local Government Act (NI) 1923 Section 7 and apply only to War Memorials.
'Could proceed'
Commenting, Stephen Gillespie, Strategic Director with council, said that councillors could proceed with the restoration project subject to all of the funding being secured and a further report being brought back detailing the works and costings for this scheme.
However, Sinn Fein’s Mickey Cooper said that there was a ‘bit of confusion’ over what was being asked, given that the report had not established who actually owned the memorial.
He added that given Armistice Day would be marked on November 11, 2018, council should ‘explore all our options’ in relation to war memorials in the district.
Meanwhile, the DUP’s Graham Warke said he welcomed the report, and that there were ‘other potential funders there’ who could bring the Diamond War Memorial ‘up to standard’.
'Cracked'
Alderman Warke added that it was ‘sad to see the way it is at the minute’ as parts of the monument were ‘cracked’.
Commenting, the independent councillor Paul Gallagher said that the purpose of the report had been to establish ownership.
“We still haven’t identified that,” he said.
“This report says that council has the powers to clean it up, but it doesn’t say that council should.
“We need to find out who owns this, and if they have the funds, it should lie with them.”
At that point, Alderman Warke said that ‘everyone’ in the local council district has ownership of the memorial, given that the names of people from both sides of the community who lost their lives in the Great War are inscribed on it.
The chair of the committee, Sinn Fein’s Patricia Logue, said that there was nothing in the report before them to say who had ownership of the monument.
“All that has been established here is that council has the power to do this, but nothing in the report to say that council has the remit,” Cllr Logue added.
Alderman Warke then replied: “With all due respect, with regards to who owns it, the people of this city.”
Responding, Cllr Logue said: “Just to clarify, there was a working group set up to look at this, and this report will go into that working group.
“There’s nothing to say we should do it, just that we can.”
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.