Derry businessman Garvan O’Doherty blasts: Smashed bridge a symbol of Stormont neglect

Mr. O’Doherty is furious the glass panels have not been fixed. He has written to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) demanding action.

Speaking to the ‘Journal’ yesterday Mr. O’Doherty said: “I pay my rates and I pay my taxes on time so why does Derry have to wait ten months for this to be fixed.

“This is totally unacceptable and Derry is not going to accept a second rate service from central government anymore.”

The well-known business man, who has invested tens of millions in the local property and hospitality sectors, was so infuriated at the length of delay in getting the landmark repaired he wrote to the Department for Infrastructure this week.

He complained: “The bridge is a key tourist attraction and is used by many local people for recreation and work purposes. It is so very disappointing and indeed simply totally unacceptable to have the bridge in this condition and for so long -pre and during COVID-19. I understand COVID-19 may have delayed delivery of glass but this matter required attention long before March 12. August 2019 was when damage first occurred.

“This is absolutely a most inefficient way to handle the situation and I would advise you that if my staff dealt with such a matter in a similar way they would have been held accountable and action taken.”

Last week at a meeting of the Derry City and Strabane District Council Business and Culture Committee the matter was raised by Councillor Christopher Jackson.

He pointed out that at a meeting of the committee in March councillors had been advised of correspondence from DfI suggesting repair works on the bridge were imminent. But it was now June and there was still no progress, he observed.

“We shouldn’t let it slip off the agenda. We have let that particular issue be delayed for far too long,” said Colr. Jackson.

Speaking to the ‘Journal’ yesterday Mr. O’Doherty said COVID-19 was not an excuse.

“We have been waiting for ten months for the Peace Bridge to be fixed. We have been waiting for 50 years for a university. It’s not on. It’s not acceptable. We need to be shouting from the rooftops and banging on doors. This is a first class city and we are not going to accept a second class service anymore,” he blasted.

Mr. O’Doherty said he understood from his correspondence with DfI that the delay was partly due to difficulties sourcing the glass panels required for the repairs.

This has been exacerbated by the coronavirus outbreak and compounded by the fact that it is the first time DfI have been responsible for replacing them.

However, he said that Derry has had enough of excuses over the years.

“I do not do excuses, I do delivery. Someone needs to ‘own this bridge’ and this principle needs adopted across so many of our public assets in Derry.

“Once it is owned and passion exists for the same they should protect and maintain standards - with minor delays to maintaining quality if damage or issues arise. We need to stop falling between stools.”

Last year Mr. O’Doherty pitched a number of major civic investments to DC&SDC including an International Maritime & Emigration Museum (IMEM) at Fort George and a new creative skills quarter (CS/Q) in the city centre.

In his letter to DfI he said: “Image is everything and, as we try to kickstart the tourism industry we have enough challenges to deal with so presenting a welcoming, well maintained and well-presented city are some of the main requirements and operating principles.

"It is not a desire it is a requirement. We must present and maintain this beautiful city and protect what we have -for citizens and visitors alike. To have the Peace Bridge in this condition for ten months -verging on one year- is a sad state of affairs.”

The ‘Journal’ asked the Department for an update on the repair schedule.