Calls for Peace Bridge Curfew

Councillor David Ramsey said local people told him “enough is enough” after twenty or thirty drunken young people spilled out of St. Columb’s Park and the Ebrington Parade Ground area on Monday evening, throwing bricks and bottles and hurling sectarian abuse in Bond’s Street.

“People are fed up with this every time there’s a bit of good weather,” said Mr Ramsey. “The park was left in a total mess and local people are afraid to use it. It’s getting to the stage that the Peace Bridge is becoming an expensive interface.”

DRASTIC STEP CONSIDERED

The DUP Alderman said local people are reaching the end of their tether and have told him they are considering requesting the drastic step of the iconic bridge being closed to through traffic from 9.00 pm during unusually good weather, which often seems to herald disorder.

“Enough is enough. Residents are telling me that maybe it’s time to look at closing the Peace Bridge at 9 o’clock.

“That’s the last thing we want but if this continues with droves of people coming across the bridge, drinking and creating havoc, people are that fed up they’re going to be down protesting at the bridge,” said Mr Ramsey.

Police confirmed that they received reports of a number of young people throwing stones at each other and passing cars in the Ebrington area.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police responded and the young people dispersed. There were no reports of damage caused to any vehicles at the time and no arrests were made. Police enquiries into the incident are continuing.”

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said they are aware of the ongoing issue of anti-social behaviour at the park.

“The rubbish has now been cleared from the area and the Park Rangers will continue to monitor the situation over the coming days, with patrols also being stepped up in the area by our Community Safety Wardens,” the spokersperson said. “Anti-social behaviour remains an issue for the PSNI who have indicated that they will be stepping up their monitoring of the area.”