MAYOR of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke, has unveiled a stunning new art work hanging over Waterloo Place that aims to support the night time economy in the area.
The ‘Night Lights’ were developed as part of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s wider Covid Recovery and Revitalisation campaign which aims to support local businesses on their journey towards recovery.
The project is funded by the Department for Communities and aims to help restore confidence in visiting local shops, bars and restaurants and support the recovery of the local economy.
The Night Lights span the entirety of Waterloo Street, one of the major City Centre streets that is home to many independent businesses and the hub of local nightlife.
The ever changing kaleidoscope of colour intends to reflect the vibrancy of the characters and cultures who visit the street and lift and shift the mood of all who walk up and down it.
Mayor Warke welcomed the new art work and expressed his hope that it would give businesses in the area a much needed boost.
“I am delighted to launch this stunning artwork which will bring a real splash of colour to Waterloo Street in the dark,” he said.
“The Inside Out programme first took to the streets last year when restrictions were eased over the summer months and it received a positive response from people of all ages and encouraged footfall back into the City Centre through outdoor décor and furniture.
“This has been a hugely challenging couple of years for local businesses and I hope this project will give traders in the area a much needed boost not just this Christmas but in the traditionally quieter period in January and
February.”
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said: “The funding my Department has made available to Councils under the Covid Recovery Revitalisation project aims to help our towns and cities in their recovery from the effects of the pandemic.
“This new, innovative lighting scheme for Waterloo Street in Derry will help to attract people back into the area and in turn will help to support local traders, particularly those involved in the night time economy.
“The continued collaboration between central and local government and local businesses to deliver interventions such as this will facilitate the economic recovery process”.
For more of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Recovery and Revitalisation Plan visit: derrystrabane.com/recovery
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