Wilson launches plan to realise full potential of historic walls

A new plan to manage and promote Londonderry’s historic walls will complement efforts to conserve the site, Environment Minister Sammy Wilson claimed today.

The Minister was commenting at the launch of a new management plan aimed at ensuring the full economic and tourism potential of the walls is realised.

Mr Wilson said: “Working with partners including the Tourist Board and the City Council, my Department has developed a strong framework of research and policy in regard to the City Walls.

“The management plan, I am launching today, is the culmination of this phase of work and sets out practical guidance for all involved in work to, or events associated with, the monument.

“I hope that this, and the initiatives to flow from it, and from the associated conservation plan, will ensure that the full potential of the monument can be realised as a device for tourism and economic development. This is the largest monument in state care in Northern Ireland and its full potential must be realised.”

The Minister joined Mayor Gerard Diver and representatives of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Roads Service, Ilex and the City Centre Initiative, to launch the plan, which is aimed at all agencies involved in the day to day management of the City’s key monument.

The management plan has been funded as part of the Walled City Destination Project through the Integrated Development Fund and has developed from the conservation plan for the Walls which was published in 2007.

Its key aim is to ensure that, as the promotion and management of the monument is likely to become more complex and critical in future years, a robust management structure is in place which can cope with the challenges and also realise the full potential of the monument to the City.

The Minister continued: “A major aspiration in the plan is to establish a formal management group for the monument. This will involve all of the groups currently involved in its management.

“I am pleased to announce that my Department will establish this group as soon as possible after the plan has been fully adopted by all parties. We intend also that the plan will help contribute to civic discussions in regard to the potential of the Walled City to become a World Heritage Site. I have accepted an invitation to be briefed on this, by the City Council, and I look forward to hearing from them on this subject in the near future.”

Notes To Editors:

1. Over the last ten years the city walls have been restored to a high standard but the new century brings new challenges of increased tourism and development. In addition, increased prosperity and popularity may bring new development which if not handed well may have a negative impact upon the monument.

2. The Management and Conservation Plans seek to complement this investment by establishing a framework for future decisions. The Conservation Plan explained why the monument should be considered of value and what is important. It establishes general policies for the future. The Management Plan provides more practical advice for those involved in its day to day development on the how, when, and by whom.

3. A key part of the plan is the establishment of management group for the structure. The city walls as a monument are open and accessible within a busy urban setting and it is not possible, or desirable, for one agency to take all the decisions. However, better management will help to ensure that its full potential is reached. Currently the fabric is maintained by NIEA. The City Council own the cannons and carry out cleaning functions and organise events. Road Service maintain the surface of the monument and its lighting. The City Centre Initiative has evolved a role in security, through its wardens, and The Honourable The Irish Society though having devolved responsibility to the state in 1955, are still owners and retain a keen interest in the structure. There are many other stakeholders who have a more minor role, at present, such as tour guides and arts organisations. The plan proposes that the present informal links between the key agencies involved will be formalised into a management group.

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