Derry SDLP opposes wall march

SDLP members of Derry City Council are understood to be against any plans by the Apprentice Boys of Derry to march on the stretch…

SDLP members of Derry City Council are understood to be against any plans by the Apprentice Boys of Derry to march on the stretch of the city walls overlooking the Bogside during their annual parade in August.

Last year, when the Apprentice Boys marched along the same stretch, violent clashes occurred involving marchers, protesters and the RUC.

Following Monday's clashes in the Ormeau Road, Belfast, senior SDLP councillors in Derry say they are determined that such scenes will not happen in August.

The nationalist controlled city council has almost finalised an agreement with the owners of the city walls, the Honourable The Irish Society. Under the agreement, the council will manage the use of the walls on a daily basis and the Department of the Environment will continue to have responsibility for their upkeep. The society, whose members financed the construction of the walls between 1614 and 1619, will retain ownership.

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This year, the Apprentice Boys are again expected to apply to the RUC to march on the walls during their annual parade. The Bogside Residents Committee, whose members last August stayed overnight on the walls on the eve of the parade, has written twice to the march organisers asking for talks about this year's planned route. To date no reply has been received.