Ilex regeneration plan for Londonderry is unveiled

The plan is expected to recommend a traffic-free city centre

A new plan for the economic regeneration of Londonderry has been unveiled on Thursday.

The plan by the urban regeneration company ILEX will prepare Derry for its role as UK City of Culture 2013.

It outlines the creation of over 12,500 jobs and the removal of traffic and parking from the city centre.

It is hoped this will attract approximately £500m worth of investment into the local economy.

The idea of removing traffic and parking from the city centre would turn the area within the city walls into a pedestrian-only zone. Such a move would likely affect many small businesses in the area as well as the Richmond Shopping Centre.

The plan also suggests the creation of a third road bridge, a new footbridge between Prehen and the Brandywell and the increase of places at Magee university from about 3,800 at present to 9,400.

Mixed reaction

After more than a decade of recommendations, consultations and reports about how to progress the city, the 155 page Ilex plan entitled One City, One Plan, One Voice aims to be the plan to end all plans.

Economic jounalist Paul Gosling says the question now is whether it can be realised.

"In the past we had dozens of plans, each of them has been put forward without the means to deliver it.

"It's not just about funding, it's actually getting all the government departments practically committed, as well as financially commited," he said.

Padraig Canavan, chair of the U4D campaign for a bigger university, enthusiastically welcomed the proposals.

"A lot of what we've been talking about for the last 18 months is reflected in the plan. It's not exactly what we wanted, but it's close enough for us to be able to endorse it whole-heartedly," he said.

Louis McLaughlin, a local businessman, predicted a mixed reaction to the plan to remove traffic from the city centre.

"Tourists would probably love it, because by taking the traffic out they can wander about the streets. But I'm sure locals wouldn't approve of it the same way tourists would," he said.

Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, and the Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood, were at the Waterside Theatre to launch the document.

Mr McGuiness said that the executive was "very committed" to ensuring the success of the regeneration project.

There will now be a 12 week consultation period during which members of the public will be able to submit their opinions on the propopsals.

A summary of the report will be sent out to 40,000 homes and 27,000 child-friendly versions will also be distributed.

The full text will be available online at Ilex's website.