Pump Street closure 'a complete headache'

A Derry business woman has spoken about the “absolute stress” she has experienced due to the ongoing closure of Pump Street in the city centre Cathedral Quarter.

“It has been a complete headache,” said Michelle Brace, owner of The Blonde Lane hair salon. “I had to cancel clients’ appointments all last week because we were repeatedly told our electricity was going to be off all day, only to discover that wasn’t the case and it actually remained on.”

Pump Street has been cordoned off to prevent vehicular access since the partial collapse of the derelict former Convent of Mercy building on Sunday, October 5.

Derry City and Strabane District Council received an application for Listed Building Consent for “partial controlled demolition of [the] unsafe structure” on October 8. However, no decision has yet been taken on the application.

“We got to open last week as we are closer to the top end, the London Street end, of Pump Street but because I was told nearly every day my electricity was going to be switched off to allow for the demolition of the collapsed building, I ended up cancelling clients and trying to rearrange appointments. It has been really stressful,” said Ms Brace.

“As a result, the way I am taking it now is, I am going to go in in every day and deal with whatever comes our way regarding the demolition. So, until I go in there and there is no electricricity, I will be open for business because there is no point in me stressing myself out, cancelling people and rearranging them.

“I think Derry City and Strabane District Council should have had a liaison person to provide businesses in Pump Street with up to date information, instead of all the uncertainty.

“Pump Street is still sealed off to traffic, but there is a walkway on the right hand side going up from Ferryquay street. London Street is also sealed off but my premises can be accessed by foot.

“This is wreaking havoc with my deliveries. I got a phone call from someone on Sunday night to ask if it was okay to give my number to somebody from DHL because they tried to deliver my packages several times and because they were unable to gain access to Pump Street, they were going to return them to the supplier.

“I have lost income and I have lost time as a result of the current situation in Pump Street. Going forward there would need to be a wee bit more transparency. Admittedly there was a meeting in the Sandwich Company for business owners last week but it was at 8.00am in the morning. As a mother of three young children, there was no way I could attend a meeting so early in the day. I don’t know who organised it but what a time to call a meeting, right in the middle of the school run.”

She added: “I think the Council needs to make a decision but communicate with people.

Asbestos presence identified nine years ago in collapsed building

No Listed Building Consent on collapsed Pump Street property

A ‘Refurbishment / Demolition Asbestos Survey’ has been submitted to Derry City and Strabane District Council as part of the Listed Building Consent application for the former Convent of Mercy on Pump Street.

The report, which was completed nine years ago, on September 28, 2016, stated: “Urgent remedial action is required to make safe asbestos identified on this site.”

LATEST: Pump Street: Owners' application for listed building consent being considered by Planning officials

'Resolution requires careful consideration of obligation to protect important part of built heritage'

“It should at least have provided a letter, anything, because we were just left in the dark. We were just trying to glean as much information as possible among ourselves. Even the owners of the building couldn’t give us a straight answer.

“There are a lot of things that need to be put in place to help the businesses here until we know for definite what is happening, like alternative delivery locations which are easily accessible for drivers.

“There also need to be clear announcements made on social media, something to give people an idea of what is happening so it doesn’t run into weeks and weeks of annoyance for businesses and customers.”