Fence plan to tackle sectarian gangs in the Waterside

Council officers were approached about an ongoing series of anti-social activities in the vicinity of Lisnagelvin Playing Fields by the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and the Top of the Hill Residents Group in December.

It subsequently emerged there were 24 separate reported incidents to police about the activity of rival sectarian gangs - often drunk and congregating in groups of up to 40 - in the vicinity of the Lisnagelvin Playing Fields, Irish Street Bowling Green, Gelvin Grange and Knockwellan Park last April - October alone.

The PSNI reported that “these mainly consisted of youths congregating in the area for ‘pre-arranged fights’ between rival factions or youths causing general annoyance in the area.”

Police received numerous reports of large gangs gathering in the area for pre-arranged factions fights - sometimes involving stones and paint-bombs - and sometimes arranged by mobile phone text-message.

A member of teaching staff at Lisneal College reported to police last April that pupils were texting each other to arrange clashes.

Sectarianism, underage drinking and public urination was also reported.

A PSNI report supplied to Derry City Council advised that “these are only the incidents that have been reported to police. There are probably more incidents that have went unreported by members of the public.”

In response, Council officers met with local residents, the CSP and PSNI to identify what type of approach could be adopted to mitigate and prevent further problems.

Now Derry City Council’s Environmental Services Committee will tomorrow decide whether to approve £14.5k to build a new 170m palisade fence to the edge of the Gelvin Grange Road, a 1.8m high palisade fence along the Irish Street end of the Playing Fields and new gated access adjacent to Irish Street and Clondermot Park.

It follows requests by “local residents that Council take action to prevent those participating in antisocial behaviour from accessing the Playing Fields at night as this activity was having a serious impact on the families living adjacent to the problem area.”

It is also proposed that Derry City council and the CSP increase their visibility in the area immediately and that external funding be secured to undertake site boundary works to the Irish Street end of the Playing Fields.

A report by the Town Clerk to tomorrow’s meeting recommends councillors endorse the plan and approve funding for the new fencing.