Council service update, January 25
25 January 2025
Council continues to work with local agencies in the ongoing emergency response to Storm Éowyn which has resulted in some damage to roads and property throughout the City and District.
Staff continue to be on site carrying out health and safety inspections and providing services from early this morning. Teams from across all Council services have been meeting and co-ordinating efforts throughout the weekend and this work will continue over the coming days.
The health and safety of both staff and the general public is our first priority and for that reason we would encourage the public to be patient and to expect some delays to services.
As we continue to work with partner agencies work to assess and remedy damage caused by Storm Éowyn members of the public should exercise caution when close to obvious debris and damage, including power lines. The public are also advised to take note of further yellow weather warnings in place over the weekend relating to winds, snow and ice and to take the appropriate measures to keep them and their property safe. Please follow the Met Office for updates.
Bin collections
Refuse Collection crews are out working today servicing bins that were missed from Friday. For any bins not emptied today the advice is to make contact with our Customer Services Team on 028 71 374107 on Monday morning or by email at refuse&[email protected] and arrangements will be made to have them emptied as soon as possible.
Cemeteries and outdoor sites
The City Cemetery, Ballyoan, Altnagelvin and Strabane Cemeteries are all open to the public. Users are strongly advised to take due care and attention at all facilities both for fallen trees and for slippery pathways. The public are urged not to visit historical sites. Our staff are on site to clear all main arterial routes at our facilities as a priority.
Recycling Centres
All of our recycling centres, with the exception of Plumbridge, are open.
Leisure Centres
All Council Leisure Centres are open as normal.
Community Assistance
All of our Leisure Centres are open and available to the public who are without power or water and who require assistance with heat, tea/coffee and phone charging and shower facilities. We have extended the opening hours at Templemore, Melvin and Derg Valley Leisure Centre to 10pm tonight, Saturday.
Tomorrow Sunday, Templemore, Foyle Arena and Melvin will be open from 9am – 6pm while Riversdale and Derg Valley Leisure Centres will open from 1pm – 6pm.
Council facilities
The Guildhall, Tower Museum and the Alley Theatre are open and operating as normal.
Street cleansing
Our street cleansing teams have been out and about from this early morning servicing the city and towns and working with grounds maintenance teams to make sure Council facilities are safe to access.
Grass pitches
All Council grass pitches and 3G pitches will remain closed for the weekend. User groups are being contacted.
Parks and play parks
Ongoing health and safety inspections are ongoing today to get as many of our parks, play areas and greenways open to the public. There are several trees down at the Bay Road and Strathfoyle greenways and a number of other parks, we have teams out on site carrying out clearance and repair works. The public are asked to avoid areas where there are trees and to take due care and attention as there may be debris or fallen branches etc.
Again, the public are asked to be patient and expect some delays to opening of facilities after the storm to allow these checks and possible clean-up work to be carried out.
Looking ahead
Please take note of further weather warnings in place over the weekend including a YELLOW warning for SNOW & ICE for Northern Ireland between 1800hrs on Saturday 25th and 1000hrs on Sunday 26th January 2025: MEDIUM Likelihood of LOW Impacts and a YELLOW warning for WIND for Northern Ireland between 1000hrs and 1900hrs on Sunday 26th January 2025: MEDIUM Likelihood of LOW Impacts
Strong winds affecting Northern Ireland, potentially disrupting transport and infrastructure
Further information: UK weather warnings - Met Office
Emergency Contact numbers:
Emergency services 999 or 112
Flooding Incident Line - 0300 2000 100
NI Electricity Networks – 03457 643 643
NI Gas Emergency Service – 0800 002 001
NI Water – 03457 440 088
Housing Executive – 03448 920 901
Report a blocked road – 0300 200 7891