New Derry tourist office at Waterloo Place being held up due to funding issues

by Marianne Flood

Plans for a new Tourist Information Centre in the heart of the city centre have stalled because the money has not been released by the Northern Ireland Executive, it has emerged.

The then DUP Economy Minister Simon Hamilton agreed last year to meet the £1m funding shortfall needed to relocate the Visit Derry offices from Foyle Street to the former Ulster Bank building in Waterloo Place, which now houses a number of new tenants since its renovation, including the City Centre Initiative (CCI).

However, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Tourism, councillor Mickey Cooper, told the Derry News that Mr Hamilton did not sign the letter to release the money prior to the collapse of the Stormont Assembly in January.

Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed last year it was part funding the move to the more central location.

Visit Derry’s administrative operation has since been relocated to the new premises, but the tourist information desk is still located at the Foyle Street offices.

Speaking to the Derry News on Friday, Cllr Cooper said he is growing increasingly frustrated by the continuing delay in the funding being made available for the a new Tourist Information Centre.

“The letter of offer needed to be signed by Simon Hamilton, but unfortunately for whatever reason he didn’t sign it,” Cllr Cooper said.

“So we are now in a position where they money has been agreed but not released.

“We have already lost out on an enhanced service to tourists and the extra footfall would have welcomed by the traders in both the Strand Road and Waterloo area of the city.

“Even if the centre is ready for the autumn or winter all the summer trade has been lost.”

He continued: “This was to be a state of the art facility, which is what international visitors expect.”

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed the government funding has not come through yet.

“At present the office’s operations are split between the visitor information front desk at Foyle Street and back end administration functions at Waterloo Place,” the spokesperson said.

“The permanent move is subject to the approval of a business case for a refit of the new office by Tourism NI through the Northern Ireland Executive.”