Locals in L'Derry city have been invited to take part in an extensive public consultation process for the new Municipal Cemetery.

The draft proposals outline plans for a cemetery on the west bank of the city, accessed via a new entrance from Mullenan Road.

This hugely significant Derry City and Strabane District Council capital development project has taken 10 years to reach this stage and follows due diligence by Council’s internal team who have worked to identify and assess a number of potential sites. Following extensive technical assessments, it was agreed that the Mullenan Road site is the most suitable for a development of this nature and scale.

As part of the engagement process Council is inviting comments from the general public on the proposed development and is hosting a public information event next month to assist with this process.

The public information event is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 04 October 2022 between 3pm and 9pm at Ballougry Primary School, 30 Mullenan Road, Derry, BT48 9XN, where members of the public are encouraged to attend. Details of the project will be available for the public to view and officers from Council will be available to provide information and answer questions.

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Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Cllr Sandra Duffy said: "The public information session is an excellent way for the public to find out more about the project and I would encourage all interested parties to come along and be part of this important engagement process.

"The proposed development will see the establishment of a Cemetery that includes provision of approximately 4000 burial plots with associated parking/landscaping. It will also include a memorial service building & garden, repositories for ashes, conversion of existing dwelling to admin building, removal of existing outbuildings and construction of operations buildings/yard. A new footway link will be made to Ballougry Road to facilitate pedestrian/cycle connection to the 'Line' greenway."

The Mayor explained that the public meeting is part of a three-month pre-application community consultation period that is required prior to Council submitting a major planning application under the Planning Act (NI) 2011.

For those who are unable to attend the information session on 04 October, there will also be the facility to view the proposals and give feedback via Council's online consultation facility, which will be available from 04 October at https://www.derrystrabane.com/consultations. Hard copies of the proposals will also be available to view at the reception of Councils offices at 98 Strand Road Derry and 47 Derry Road Strabane.

The deadline for submissions is 4pm on Friday, 18 November 2022.