A disused play area in the Waterside area of Derry which has been a site of continuing anti-social behaviour is to be removed by the local council.
The play area lies at a green belt in the Bards Hill area of Top of the Hill (pictured above), close to the site of a former community centre.
It was put in place 25 years ago but has fallen into disrepair, with residents in the area raising concerns about levels of anti-social behaviour and vandalism.
The issue was raised at a recent meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Environment and Regeneration Committee, where councillors were asked to approve the removal of the play area.
The meeting, which was held in Strabane, was told that the play areas is ‘old and dilapidated, little play value and is beyond its natural lifespan’.
Karen Phillips, Director of Environment and Regeneration with council, added that the play area has ‘suffered badly from incremental vandalism over the years’.
She continued that council, in partnership with Top of the Hill 2020 and the Department of Communities developed new play provision at Rose Court which was opened to the public in July 2016.
Ms Phillips continued that council was now seeking to remove the play area, place topsoil over it and replace it with grass, at a cost of £5,000.
“Finances are available in Council's Property Section to meet this expenditure,” she continued.
The SDLP’s Martin Reilly asked if this was the ‘long-term plan for the site’, to which Ms Philips replied, ‘Yes’.
Commenting, Sinn Fein’s Colly Kelly welcomed the move and said that he hoped the removal would help ‘alleviate’ some of the problems being experienced by residents.
He added that the park at Rose Court was well used by the community and therefore the old site at Bards Hill was no longer needed.
Councillors then approved the removal of the play area.
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