By Gareth Cross

A meeting of Derry’s council has been told that popular park in the city should be closed at night until the ongoing anti-social behaviour at the site is addressed.

The move comes after the PSNI confirmed that it has stepped up patrols in St Columb's Park response to recent reports of anti-social behaviour, with officers stationed at the Peace Bridge over recent nights following the concerns.

The issue of anti-social behavioural problems in the park was discussed at the monthly meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council, held in the Guildhall on Thursday afternoon.

At the meeting, the Waterside SDLP councillor Tina Gardiner proposed a motion 'to address the rise in anti-social behaviour around the Council's park and recreational facilities'.

Cllr Gardiner said council should seek to do this 'by collaborating with the relevant government departments, to engage the additional skills and expertise of youth workers at these venues'.

She told council that the good weather brought young people to Derry's parks from as young as 12 and 13 to drink alcohol and engage in anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Gardiner continued that council now needed to take the lead on the issue as drinking at a young age could cause numerous health issues in future, added that young people were causing numerous issues for residents living in the local area and that a multi-agency approach was needed to deal with the issue.

Responding, DUP Alderman David Ramsey said the motion was 'very good timing' as there had been a number of issues around St Columb's Park recently.

He said local people who used to visit the park no longer feel comfortable in good weather due to young people drinking and engaging in sexual activity.

Alderman Ramsey told council that the park was a mixed space, but that alcohol was causing issues and 'we don't want to go back to the bad old days'.

He said that Derry had made huge strides in recent years in making the city inclusive and safe for everyone.

However, Alderman Ramsey told the meeting that the ‘Peace Bridge has not brought peace to the Waterside, it's brought mayhem’.

He said that young people were gathering in their hundreds and it was too many people for the PSNI to deal with.

Alderman Ramsey also raised the issue of a recent attack in the Bonds Street area of the Waterside by what he described as a 'sectarian gang'.

He told council that a group of up to 60 people attacked residents leaving some with serious injuries, before adding that something had to change ‘before someone was killed’.

His party colleague, Hilary McClintock said that council was 'lucky we are not walking behind three coffins today, that's how serious the attack in Bonds Street was'.

She told council that people in the area 'are living in fear and are talking about defending their own community'.

The independent councillor Darren O'Reilly said that previous strategies that had worked well in tackling anti-social behaviour could be re-introduced by council.

Cllr O'Reilly told council that social media and drugs were adding to the issue and that young people traveled from all over to go into different areas and take part in anti-social behaviour.

Sinn Fein councillor Christopher Jackson said it was 'disappointing to hear an attempt to detract from the major problems in St Columb's Park'.

Cllr Jackson told council that no park should be a no-go area and said that young people needed to take pride in the available facilities.

SDLP councillor Angela Dobbins said that youth workers were needed to help engage with the young people and prevent the anti-social behaviour.

Meanwhile, the independent unionist councillor Maurice Devenney said that there were issues in parks across the council area.

He told council there had been issues in the past in Brooke Park and it seemed the issues had moved to St Columb's Park.

Alderman Devenney said he would 'call into question the parents of the young people' for not knowing where their children are.

He told council that it was 'almost time to close St Columb's Park'.

"Time is running out and we may have to close the park at nights, especially at weekends to combat anti-social behaviour," he said.

Cllr Gardiner said that the discussion had been 'tied into a sectarian debate, it saddens me greatly but it's not surprising given the month we are in'.

Independent councillor Gary Donnelly told council that 'anybody that says the days of sectarianism are over is deluded'.

He said councillors should consider why young people turn to drink and drugs and that they had been let down.

Independent Councillor Paul Gallagher asked council if the motion demonised young people.

Responding, the SDLP’s Shauna Cusack said that the motion intended to protect young people.

DUP Alderman Drew Thompson said that the motion did not mention young people and that council should tackle anti-social behaviour in all its forms.

The motion was amended to include community workers and statutory organisations helping to tackle the issue.

The motion was with two abstentions.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.