Derry secures Purple Flag status for eighth year in a row

by Gráinne Connolly

The Association of Town and City Management has awarded Derry Purple Flag status for the eighth year in a row.

The city has been awarded the prestigious accolade, that recognises town and city centre’s meeting standards in its evening and night time economy offerings.

It's generally awarded to areas that are recognised as providing vibrancy and a diverse mix of entertainment, dining and culture, while also promoting safety, cleanliness and the wellbeing of residents and visitors.

Jim Roddy, City Centre Manager, CCI - who co-ordinate the Purple Flag Assessment said he was delighted to receive the news on Friday.

“This is testament to the working partnerships that exist behind the scenes within the city. Our partners are dedicated to ensuring we meet the standards required to attain Purple Flag status.

“This is an important benchmarking process and economy driver for our city and one that we have been committed to retaining.

"To get news that we’ve been awarded the status yet again is just fantastic news for us all. It is a promotional tool for attracting business, investment and visitors to our city centre and we should be proud of that and use it to remind the world that we are a city worth visiting.

“Our evening time economy is thriving at the moment and all the businesses that operate it play a central role, alongside the city centre support team including; DCSDC cleansing department, the PSNI, Foyle Search and Rescue, First Housing Support, CCTV,  NI Ambulance Service, Community Safety Wardens and the Street Pastors in keeping our city centre safe, clean and vibrant throughout the year.

"I’d like to congratulate them all and our Purple Flag Coordinator, Lorraine on this achievement."

Sarah Walker Purple Flag Programme Manager at the ATCM said: "There are now over 70 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland who are proudly flying the Purple Flag after working hard to gain accreditation.

"The award is not just about safety, but also the vibrancy and diversity of the evening and night-time offer — this can only be achieved by people working together in a strong partnership to which we are seeing great examples of across the country”.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh added: “I would like to warmly congratulate all the stakeholders in the city centre support team who work so hard along with local businesses to ensure Derry meets the high standards required to achieve the Purple Flagaccreditation.

“There has been a marked increase in the evening footfall in the city centre in recent years because local people and visitors alike know we can offer a safe and enjoyable night out with a diverse variety of entertainment options.

“The award is not only an important recognition for the city but it can aid the continued growth of our evening economy by attracting more visitors and giving business owners the confidence to grow and develop our night time offering.”