Derry & Strabane: Damage to Christmas decorations cost £50K
Last updated 16th May 2022
Almost £50,000 pounds worth of damaged was caused to Derry City and Strabane District Council Christmas Illuminations last year.
The Council’s Environment and Regeneration Committee recently heard how the costs associated with damage were to several trees and light decorations across the city.
Conor Canning, Head of Environment with Derry City and Strabane District Council, outlined to members of the Committee how the Council had invested significantly over the years in its festive lighting scheme.
He said there was a hugely positive response to the lights, in particular the artificial trees erected in Derry city centre, Ebrington, Strabane town centre and at the Let the Dance Begin sculpture and in Sion Mills.
The trees and lighting generated many positive comments and reactions both locally and beyond and were a welcome and enhanced addition to the Council’s extensive lighting programme.
He added that it was unfortunate however, that there were several reported instances of vandalism to trees across the Council area, in particular the trees in Derry’s, Guildhall Square and Waterloo Place, which were targeted on several occasions.
Repair work on the trees were carried out during the period, with the total cost amounting to almost £50,000.
He added that whilst vandalism attacks have taken place in previous years, the frequency and scale of the incidents over the festive period of 2021 resulted in additional costs to Council that had not been included in the original allocated budget.
Conor added that Council as part of its planning for this year’s Christmas illuminations is looking at several ways to improve designs and to put in additional preventable measures going forward.
Elected members at the meeting expressed their shock and disappointment at the acts of vandalism and condemned the attacks saying it was important the public are informed of the impact and cost the vandalism was having on ratepayers.
The Chair of the Committee Cllr Ruairi McHugh said “I am extremely shocked at the scale and cost of vandalism of our hugely popular Christmas lights.
“By making these costs public, I hope it will deter incidents in the years ahead and encourage people to report acts of vandalism to the relevant authorities.”
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