Cathedral Quarter Christmas market cancelled

Derry's Cathedral Quarter Initiative has announced it is cancelling its traditional Christmas Market.

In a social media post on Wednesday afternoon, the Cathedral Quarter Initiative said: "We have, with an exacerbated reluctance, made a decision to cancel our Christmas Market. This is unfortunate for a number of reasons that we'll not get into here. However! The allure of Pump Street is integral, and paramount to the overall success of our Christmas Market and currently is a major health and safety risk and more.

The weighted freight containers are now a major player on the picture postcard scene that gives cause to a very serious disconnect on Pump Street and that in itself is detrimental to the growth of the Catheral Quarter area as a visitor destination and will thus stifle our drive to economically enhance the area.

Asbestos presence identified nine years ago in collapsed building

No Listed Building Consent on collapsed Pump Street property

A ‘Refurbishment / Demolition Asbestos Survey’ has been submitted to Derry City and Strabane District Council as part of the Listed Building Consent application for the former Convent of Mercy on Pump Street.

The report, which was completed nine years ago, on September 28, 2016, stated: “Urgent remedial action is required to make safe asbestos identified on this site.”

Pump Street closure 'a complete headache'

'Absolute stress': Business Owner speaks about ongling closure of Pump Street

"We have approached responsible businesses, statutory agencies and departments on addressing this discourse and with the greatest of intentions, everyone involved could only go so far in addressing the aesthetic of the space, however, would still not address the loss of space itself with the overall outcome that a disconnect on Pump Street would still be in place however better it may look.

"It has been confirmed that a concerted effort to address Christmas Lighting on Pump Street, along with planters to assist with the emergency road closure and furthermore the weighted containers will also be decorated to address this discord.

"The setback on Pump Street has had a massive impact on the Cathedral Quarter Initiative immediate and future plans that foregoes our momentum."

The Cathedral Quarter Initiative is a not-for profit organisation. It is a business-led grouping, exploring ways to improve the district as a commercial zone.