Latest news with #FoyleCup
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Where was the forward planning?': Traffic ‘chaos' raises questions over pause in Derry city roadworks for The Open and not Foyle Cup
The traffic 'chaos' on Monday has led to further questions over a moratorium on roadworks, with one local politician calling for an immediate halt to the works. Images shared online show traffic bumper to bumper on the Foyle Bridge, with one car appearing to get stuck in the central reservation as it attempted to perform a U-turn. Members of the public have reported seeing numerous drivers doing the same manoeuvre to avoid being stuck in traffic for an hour or more. The Foyle Cup, which began in 1992, has grown exponentially to become one of the major annual events in the city, with almost 1,000 teams and some 20,000 players competing. With matches taking place across the length and breadth of the city — accommodating the teams, coaches, families and supporters attending — there is a build-up of traffic in the area. The competition, now in its 33rd year, has previously featured the likes of James McLean, Shay Given, Robbie Keane and John O'Shea as youth players. Teams are welcomed from the Republic, Great Britain, Europe and North America. This year, South African side Sports Academy George are first-time competitors at the tournament. However, it emerged that while roadworks were paused for The Open, which recently took place on the North Coast, no such measures were put in place ahead of the Foyle Cup. Works were taking place in a number of major inner city roads on the first day of the football tournament, including on one of the busiest roads in the city, from Madam's Bank to the Foyle Bridge and Culmore. Further works are scheduled to take place on Queen's Quay, which could compound problems. Tournament organisers themselves also hit out at the situation on social media, saying the traffic in the city was 'chaotic'. 'Roadworks stopped last week in the Derry City Council area because there was a golf tournament happening for four days last week 40 miles away,' they wrote. 'We need MLAs to sort out traffic flow in Derry and in Balkykelly now.' Eamon O'Donnell of North West Taxi Proprietors told BBC Radio Foyle 'it was chaos' for taxi drivers in the city, with the likes of Strathfoyle cut off entirely, as drivers can not afford to be stuck for more than an hour travelling across either the Foyle or Craigavon Bridges. He added: 'Here was an opportunity to showcase the city and to support traffic management. It just created chaos. For the taxi industry, it had a massive impact. 'Basically, we were struggling to cover bookings due to the delays. People were missing hospital appointments, doctor's appointments, people were late for work. 'People started double-booking taxis, thinking the taxis weren't coming, tying up all their taxis. He added: 'There should have been moratorium on roadworks across the city, the same as we have for the Clipper and other things. 'It should have been [the whole] the place, the Queen's Quay — all of that there needs to be put off this week to free the city up.' Asked why roadworks would be paused for The Open and not a local event, he said the organisers of The Open must have been proactive in making that request, prompting him to question why Foyle politicians and other stakeholders in the city did not do the same. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has urged the Infrastructure Minister to urgently suspend all planned roadworks in Derry for the remainder of the week. 'It is hard to understand, never mind explain, how there was a moratorium on roadworks for The Open last week, despite the event taking place in Portrush, some 40 miles away. Yet this week, during one of Derry's biggest annual events, traffic is crawling across the city, causing widespread disruption,' he said. 'This gridlock is not just impacting players and families trying to make matches on time, but it's affecting all road users. 'The Foyle Cup is a well-established, annual tournament that brings thousands of visitors into the city. Where was the forward planning to accommodate that? It's simply not good enough.' NI Water said it is laying new wastewater infrastructure on Madam's Bank Road to support new development in the city, with sewer improvements also planned to get underway this week on Queens Quay. The projects were scheduled to take place during the summer months to minimise disruption to school traffic. 'Following the cessation of works last week on Madam's Bank Road to accommodate The Open golf tournament, and the postponement of work on Queens Quay this week to facilitate the Foyle Cup parade, we have taken on board the latest concerns regarding recent traffic disruption and have been liaising with our contractors to determine what measures can be put in place at this stage to alleviate the congestion,' a spokesperson said. 'NI Water can confirm that pipelaying has been stopped on Madam's Bank Road for the remainder of this week. As of early Tuesday, July 22, morning, traffic management on Madam's Bank Road will be reduced to one lane around where the road has already been excavated for the new pipe. Watch as Donegal couple rescued from flash flooding at caves in Fermanagh 'This will leave two lanes on Madam's Bank Road, on the approach to Culmore Road roundabout, open to traffic. 'Traffic management will also be removed from Culmore Road and Foyle Bridge for the remainder of this week in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion in the area. Pipelaying work will recommence on Monday, July 28, with the necessary traffic management reinstated.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Londonderry: Traffic 'chaos' sparks better management calls
There have been calls for better traffic management in Londonderry after roadworks caused serious congestion on the first day of the Foyle of people were in Derry on Monday for the opening parade and first day of the annual youth football there were lengthy tailbacks on the Foyle Bridge, the Waterside and onwards towards Ballykelly after Northern Ireland Water restarted sewage a post on social media, Foyle Cup organisers described the situation as "chaos" and called on local politicians to "sort it out". Road works on Madam's Bank Road resumed on Monday after a pause while The Open took place in Water said it had now revised some road restrictions in the city. Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Eamonn O'Donnell from North West Taxi Proprietors said the tournament should be an "opportunity to showcase the city".Instead, he said, poor traffic management had "created chaos"."It was chaotic and a poor reflection of the city," he said."There should have been a moratorium on roadworks across the city." On Monday, NI Water said they were laying new wastewater infrastructure on Madam's Bank Road to support new development in the improvements area also planned to get under way this week on Queens Quay in the city centre.A spokesperson said the projects had been scheduled to take place – as far as possible – during the summer months to minimise disruption to school Water said that, from Tuesday, traffic would be reduced to one lane only where necessary, keeping two lanes open near the Culmore Road controls on Culmore Road and Foyle Bridge would also be lifted.A decision on further postponing works on Queens Quay will be confirmed work had been paused to accommodate the Foyle Cup's opening parade. SDLP assembly member Mark H Durkan said the resumption of work at Madam's Bank should also have been paused."It is very disappointing this hasn't been prepared for, hadn't been anticipated and action taken to prevent the chaos that we saw on our streets yesterday," he Féin councillor Sandra Duffy told BBC Radio Foyle it was "disappointing to be talking about traffic" given the success of the said it was her understanding that the tournament organiser had met police and the Department for Infrastructure to discuss traffic management but added those discussions "needed to be widened"."I believe the concentration was on the parade and wasn't widened out further and roadworks going on there. Those are the lessons we need to learn," she said."All these roadworks are known, always out for consultation, but I think a ball was dropped by quite a few of us."Almost 1,000 teams – some 20,000 players – are taking part in the Foyle Cup which runs until Saturday.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Foyle Cup kicks off with Londonderry city centre parade
Thousands of young footballers from across the world have paraded through Londonderry to mark the start of the O'Neill's Foyle 1,000 teams – some 20,000 players – will be competing for footballing glory over the next six days across the north competition, now in its 33rd year, has previously featured James McLean, Shay Given, Robbie Keane and John O'Shea as youth organiser Philip Devlin said the tournament had become one of the key events on the city's calendar. "The work that goes on in the background is immense," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, adding every year's tournament is a year in the said Monday's opening parade was a special way to get the tournament under way."It really does the heart good," he said."We used to have it on the Tuesday but moved it to Monday as we felt it really gears the kids up for the week from north America, Europe, Australia as well as the UK and Ireland are taking part in this year's have also arrived from across the globe."It is massive for not only the players but for officials as well," he said. The young footballers will play around 3,700 matches on pitches across counties Londonderry, Tyrone, and County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland."If you live close to a pitch there will be a game there, there are games everywhere," Mr Devlin said. One of the clubs taking part are Derry based Oxford United Stars."It is like their very own World Cup," under-14 coach Sean Whoriskey team have been put through their paces ahead of kick off, with extra gym and training sessions over recent said preparations have been going Dalzell also coaches the Oxford under-14 boys said there was a real sense of pride in taking part for local teams."Because we are a team from Derry, it is an event they really look forward to every year," he said."It is something they start talking about months in advance, it is the highlight of our year, something we really build up to." Estimates suggest the Foyle Cup is worth upwards of £8m to the local economy, Mr Devlin said."It is a privilege for us to be able to do that and provide that for the local economy, we are very proud to do that," he said. Hotelier Brendan Duddy said the tournament had become one of the city's key events."It is amazing how these guys have organised it, and how they have built it up over the years. It is fabulous for Derry, it is massive, just massive," he his hotel, teams from America, England, Monaghan and Belfast are booked for the tournament's run."We are fully-booked. It is as big a week as we get," Mr Duddy year's tournament was pushed back a week to avoid a clash with The Open taking place in Portrush.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sewer works delayed to avoid football parade clash
Planned sewer upgrade works in Londonderry have been paused to avoid a clash with a youth football tournament's opening parade. The work had been due to begin on Sunday at Queens Quay, with a number of traffic restrictions in place over a six week period. But with the Foyle Cup's opening parade – which draws of thousands of people into the city centre – set to take place on Monday, there had been concern over the restrictions. Northern Ireland Water has now told BBC News NI the planned works will not go ahead as initially planned. "NI Water can confirm that it will postpone its planned works at Queens Quay in Derry by 48 hours to alleviate traffic congestion on the day of the Foyle Cup parade," a NI Water spokesperson said. Work will now begin at Queens Quay on 22 July. Social Democratic and Labour Party assembly member Mark H Durkan had said if the tournament parade and planned works clashed it would be a challenge in terms of city centre traffic. The work at Queens Quay is part of a major upgrade of Derry's sewer network and will see Queens Quay restricted to one lane during the day and closed fully at times. In an earlier statement NI Water said it appreciated "work of this nature may be disruptive and thank the public for their patience and cooperation as we complete these essential improvements". Madams Bank restrictions Earlier in July NI Water confirmed traffic restrictions to allow for work in the Madams Bank area of Derry would be reinstated on 20 July. They have been paused while The Open is taking place in Portrush. Madams Bank Road is one of the major routes from the city into County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier this year one of the city's busiest streets reopened after it was closed for eight months. Foyle Street closed in August 2024 to allow for a £4.2m major upgrade to the water and sewerage infrastructure. Traders had expressed concern over the impact of the closure on business in the area. Traders welcome street reopening after eight months In pictures: Young Foyle Cup stars parade in Derry
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Foyle Cup: Derry sewer works delayed to avoid football parade clash
Planned sewer upgrade works in Londonderry have been paused to avoid a clash with a youth football tournament's opening work had been due to begin on Sunday at Queens Quay, with a number of traffic restrictions in place over a six week with the Foyle Cup's opening parade – which draws of thousands of people into the city centre – set to take place on Monday, there had been concern over the Ireland Water has now told BBC News NI the planned works will not go ahead as initially planned. "NI Water can confirm that it will postpone its planned works at Queens Quay in Derry by 48 hours to alleviate traffic congestion on the day of the Foyle Cup parade," a NI Water spokesperson will now begin at Queens Quay on 22 July. Social Democratic and Labour Party assembly member Mark H Durkan had said if the tournament parade and planned works clashed it would be a challenge in terms of city centre traffic. The work at Queens Quay is part of a major upgrade of Derry's sewer network and will see Queens Quay restricted to one lane during the day and closed fully at an earlier statement NI Water said it appreciated "work of this nature may be disruptive and thank the public for their patience and cooperation as we complete these essential improvements". Madams Bank restrictions Earlier in July NI Water confirmed traffic restrictions to allow for work in the Madams Bank area of Derry would be reinstated on 20 have been paused while The Open is taking place in Bank Road is one of the major routes from the city into County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier this year one of the city's busiest streets reopened after it was closed for eight Street closed in August 2024 to allow for a £4.2m major upgrade to the water and sewerage had expressed concern over the impact of the closure on business in the area.
