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Storey turns down Sinn Féin name proposal

SINN Féin have hit out after DUP minister Mervyn Storey rejected a proposal to name a new bridge in Strabane after one of its former councillors.

Sinn Féin members of Derry city and Strabane district council have accused Mr Storey of blocking their decision to name the footbridge after veteran councillor Ivan Barr who died in 2008.

A chairman of the Civil Rights’ Association in the 1960s, Mr Barr was among the first Sinn Féin councillors to take their seats on local authorities in Northern Ireland.

The decision to name the bridge after the late councillor was first taken by Strabane district council before it amalgamated with Derry city council. However, in February this year, Mr Storey rejected the proposed name.

The minister argued that as key funder, he had final approval over the name of the bridge. He had sought a shortlist of proposed names from Strabane council but only Mr Barr's name was submitted.

The issue came up again this week when it was discussed at committee level by Derry city and Strabane council.

Strabane Sinn Féin councillor, Karina Carlin said the name had already been decided by the people of Strabane.

“This is to honour a man who gave his entire life to the service of the people of Strabane," she said.

"I wonder had Ivan been independent, would the minister have objected to the name. I’m wondering if the minister is merely objecting because Ivan was a Sinn Féin councillor.”

However, Ulster Unionist councillor Derek Hussey said that as the chief funder the Department of Social Development had asked that proposed names should not be politically divisive.

“I think the council could have included Ivan Barr’s name in a list of proposed names rather than just submitting one name and it might have been accepted,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Social Development said it was a condition of providing funding that the department would have final approval on the name. She said the department asked that the new name should not be politically significant to one section of the community.

“The minister wrote to Strabane district council and subsequently the new council advising that the single name put forward, ‘the Ivan Barr Bridge’ did not meet that requirement," she said.

"The Department awaits a list of suitable names to be forwarded for consideration and remains hopeful that this issue can be resolved amicably.”

The matter is due to be raised again at a council meeting on June 25.