Fuel poverty protest group stage sit-in at Council offices

A protest group have staged a sit-in protest at Council buildings in Derry.

Campaigners from Derry Against Fuel Poverty, a pressure group set up to demand action on rising poverty levels, entered the Derry City and Strabane District Council headquarters earlier this afternoon.

Footage of the campaigners entering the building earlier this afternoon was posted on the group's Facebook page.

The group had criticised the outcome of a special council meeting held to discuss the cost-of-living crisis facing the city and council area.

They have said £3 million in Council reserves should be used to help alleviate the pressure on residents.

Cllr Shaun Harkin's motion to use the money to initiate a Hardship Emergency Fund to assist as many households as possible in the District was amended at the meeting to read 'use any funds that become available' from the £3 million in reserves.

The amendment was carried at the meeting, leading Derry Against Fuel Poverty to say they had been 'let down'.

"So many of us had great hopes for this meeting and we've been sorely let down," they said.

"People who back this campaign being treated with the most extreme disdain."

The group ended their protest by urging those watching online to join them in the 'third wave' of their protest action on Saturday April 2 at Waterloo Place at 3.00pm.

Derry Now have contacted the Council for comment.

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