The announcement by the Department of Social Development (DSD) that the temporary concert hall constructed for Derry’s City of Culture celebrations is to be demolished has been described as “disappointing” by local MLA Maeve McLaughlin.
Coming down: The Venue.
The DSD yesterday confirmed yesterday The Venue was to demolished as had been planned. It had been hoped it would have been taken over by a private investor but none came forward.
Since the start of the City of Culture celebrations, The Venue has hosted a number of major events including BBC Radio One’s hugely successful One Big Weekend, Status Quo, Elvis Costello and the Ulster boxing championship finals.
Ms McLaughlin said: “Following the very successful ‘One Big Weekend festival’ I expressed the opinion that we needed to be making a case to retain this fantastic venue after 2013. The huge success of this and the many other hugely successful events including Fleadh events hosted in the Venue have shown what such a facility can attract.”
The Sinn Fein MLA said she had “no doubt” the city was capable of competing with Belfast and Dublin for major acts and artistes provided a facility such as The Venue in which to stage them.
She added: “In this city and we all want to see more events like that in the future. Unfortunately, it seems that we will not be able to compete at that level, which would be very lucrative for the hotel and service sector once The Venue is dismantled, through lack of private sector interest coming forward.”
She concluded: “But this should not deflect us from looking at all other options. It’s not too late, I’m sure that if we all work together – Derry City Council, Ilex, the Culture Company and the Chamber of Commerce, the service and tourism sectors- to build on the momentum of 2013 we can ensure a permanent entertainment space to compete with the best. This should be one of the key legacies projects of the City of Culture.”
Foyle SDLP Mark Durkan said the DSD announcement was “regrettable” but that he still believes Derry needs a venue of such a scale as a permanent fixture.
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