Fresh calls made for river walkway repairs

FRESH CALLS have been made to revitalise the river walkway in Strabane following remarks made during the recent angling fair in the town.

The North West Angling Fair sees keen fishermen from both the local and international arena descend on Strabane. However this year, a lot commented on the disrepair of the walkway on the Meetinghouse Street side and consequently made their feelings known to local independent councillor, Raymond Barr.

Cllr Barr commented. “I recently attended the angling fair in Melvin and I had numerous anglers who collectively expressed their dismay at how the walkway on the Meetinghouse Street side has been literally allowed to fall into a sad state of disrepair. This has been the case since the walkway was damaged in the flooding of 2017 and council at the time committed to repairing the walkway, a commitment which has yet to be fulfilled. An inspection carried out three years later in March 2020 saw a report outline a number of proposals and costs for fixing the walkway. Again, nothing materialised from that report.

“This walkway used to be popular with both walkers and anglers and has been gradually deteriorating before our very eyes despite efforts from local anglers to salvage it all at their own cost. It’s about time that something was done to fix the walkway for the good of the local community who wish to use it.”

Cllr Barr points to the Derry City and Strabane District Council tourist strategy which he deems as ‘very Derry-centric’.

He continued, “It’s time for council to prove they are serious when they talk about equality and development in rural areas as outlined in the tourism strategy.

“I have asked to revisit the issue with a view to having it included in the directorate service plan for the year 2024/25.”

When contacted this week a council spokesperson said, “A proposal to include remedial flooding options in the council’s Environment and Regeneration Directorate Plan was raised at April’s Full Council meeting last week where it was agreed that an updated paper would come before a future meeting of the Environment and Regeneration Committee for elected members’ consideration.”

Regarding the options presented to the committee several years ago, the spokesperson added, “Council acknowledge that while a detailed scoping exercise was carried out and an options paper outlining various solutions and costings to alleviate this issue was presented, no budget for the works was identified at that time.”