Northern Ireland

Council was right to close streets for Derry Girls

Derry City and Strabane District council has given the go-ahead to closure two city centre streets next week to facilitate filming of the second series of hit comedy show 'Derry Girls'
Derry City and Strabane District council has given the go-ahead to closure two city centre streets next week to facilitate filming of the second series of hit comedy show 'Derry Girls' Derry City and Strabane District council has given the go-ahead to closure two city centre streets next week to facilitate filming of the second series of hit comedy show 'Derry Girls'

The organisation representing Derry’s city centre businesses believes the decision to close key streets to film hit comedy show Derry Girls was the right one despite some traders’ objections.

Derry councillors voted to close Shipquay Street and Shipquay Place to traffic next Thursday and Friday to allow filming of the award-winning series. While the streets would remain open to pedestrians, Shipquay Street would be completely closed to traffic on Thursday (9.15am to 4pm) with a stop-and-go system operating on Friday.

Derry City Centre Initiative – which represents the interests of the wider city centre - said that while it understood the traders’ concerns, the decision to facilitate the comedy production company sent out the correct message.

The second series of the hugely popular show is currently being filmed and is expected to be broadcast next year. The comedy focuses on the lives of five teenagers growing up in troubles-era Derry.

It is believed up to ten businesses objected to the move on the grounds that it would place an unreasonable burden on them.

The business owners said: “We are already in extremely difficult trading conditions and this would be an unreasonable burden at any time and more so at the start of Christmas trading.”

However, Derry City Centre Initiative manager, Jim Roddy said it was important that the city sent out the message that it was “open for business” in terms of attracting film companies to the area.

“They’re (the objectors) not against Derry Girls; they’re not against business coming to this city, in fact they want that,” he said.