Calls for urgent reopening of Ballymagroarty 3D Pitch 

There has been a call for the Ballymagroarty 3D pitch in the city to be re-opened as a matter of urgency.

The SDLP has written to Derry City and Strabane District Council calling for repairs to the pitch be carried out swiftly.

The pitch has been closed for more than two weeks to facilitate specialist improvements.

According to Mark H Durkan MLA, the delay in addressing these repairs has had a "detrimental impact on local sports organisations and the wider Ballymagroarty community". 

Mr Durkan said: "I have concerned that delays in carrying out this repair work is having a massive impact on the Ballymagroarty community.  There are multitude of issues here not least the impact on many local sports clubs who have had to rearrange, and in some instances cancel training as a result of the pitch closure. This in turn is impacting on the health and wellbeing of young people in the area.  

"There is the additional problem of community groups losing income generated from pitch rental which is used to pay salaries. My fear would is that a prolonged period of closure could mean that teams and groups who have relocated in the interim may not return.” 

SDLP Foyleside candidate Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr continued: "This is a great facility that representatives and the local community fought long and hard to get.

"There is a dearth of amenities in this area of high deprivation and the continued closure of the pitch is reducing opportunities for young people in the area. We have called on council to attend to repairs and reopen the pitch as soon as possible in the interests of future viability of the facility.”