Ebrington Hotel insists it was always happy for music events to go ahead
The Managing Director of Ebrington Hotel has insisted it never 'never had an agenda' about the 'content' of events at Ebrington Square.
The statement comes during the ongoing controversy that began after the hotel issued a legal threat to The Executive Office about events at the square.
Managing Director Cecil Doherty said there had been 'communications issues' and the hotel wants use of the square maximised.
“The Ebrington Hotel is 100% in support of maximising the use of the Square and envisages that the opening of the hotel will be a catalyst for even greater use of this outstanding asset for the City,” he said.
“The Ebrington Hotel has not and never had an agenda in regard to the content of the Ebrington Square programme and has not been involved in nor has any knowledge of plans for the 2024 schedule.
“The communications issues that occurred over two raves in August were resolved, and new plans put in place to ensure in future all the tenants on the Square would be kept informed of the dates of events.”
However, Mr Doherty has said the hotel had reservations about rave events.
He said he wants some minor tweaks including changing the positioning of the stage so its sound wasn’t directly aimed at the hotel.
In the aftermath of the controversy, no music events are scheduled for next year.
The four concerts that were in jeopardy this August went ahead in the end. However, £280,000 was paid to two event organisers and the Ebrington Hotel as 'mediation' from the Executive Office.
Cullen's funfair received £50,000, Robert Allen/Connected Festival got £80,000, and £150,000 went to the Ebrington Hotel.
A spokesperson for the Your Ebrington Derry Campaign said the hotel should donate the money it received.
“The type of events held at Ebrington Square, thus far, have done more to bring people together, from right across the city and district, than our politicians ever could. That's why we demand more of the same,” they said.
“Our people are suffering deeply. This is why we so desperately need a good news story and a local, accessible and safe place for our citizens, young and old, to enjoy themselves if and when they can.
“We therefore call on Mr Doherty, the owner of the hotel, to invest his £150,000 back into the city and our local people by donating £50,000 to Extern's Crisis Intervention Service, £50,000 to Northlands and £50,000 to Foyle Foodbank. This would go a very small way to restoring relations between the people of the city and the hotel.”
Campaigners promised they would continue to protest. The next protest is set for this Saturday, 23 September, at 2pm in Ebrington.
Meanwhile, Colum Eastwood MP has called for a meeting to discuss the transfer of management of Ebrington Square to Derry City and Strabane District Council.
The site is currently managed by the Executive Office.
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin, said the situation ‘is a complete fiasco' but cannot become a ‘burden’ on ratepayers.
“There was unanimous support from all parties at the Audit, Assurance and Risk Committee this week for People Before Profit’s proposal for an urgent meeting of Council with The Executive Office to discuss 'the use, management and future' of the Square,” he said.
"Proposals from the SDLP MP Colum Eastwood and others for the Council to take over responsibility for the Square could be the way forward - but there will be a cost to this and it can't become a further burden on ratepayers.
"The SDLP put up rates in the District by nearly 10% this year - hitting hard pressed households with another massive bill and fewer services. They slashed millions from the Council budget leaving our streets dirtier, organisations without support and events cancelled with no funding.
"Taking on Ebrington Square without a cast iron guarantee of year on year funding matched to inflation from Stormont could see the SDLP and others justifying another massive rates hike and more cuts.”
Cllr Harkin called for accountability and said the issue 'is a microcosm of a much larger problem'.
"This might not impact the MP and the minority of people who have benefited from the Good Friday Agreement - but it will hit the vast majority of people and organisations struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“Stormont officials and a handful of self-appointed corporate elites have contempt for the idea that it's the people's square. The "in-club" gets what they want - rates hikes and Stormont cuts to public services don't impact them.
"We're told there's no money for Holiday Hunger Meals for children and nothing for workers to get pay rises - but we see millions of public money handed out at Ebrington Square with accountability and no clear benefit to the vast majority of people.
“We need root and branch change from this approach."