A bar and restaurant has applied for permission to retain a controversial awning that partially covers the famous Derry Girls mural in the city.
A retrospective application, to retain the outdoor seating area and roof canopy at the beer garden adjacent to Badgers Bar and Restaurant on Orchard Street, was recently submitted to Derry City and Strabane District Council’s planning portal.
The awning was erected in September last year, following a successful application in March 2022 to construct “canvas awnings on powder coated aluminium frames”.
However this sparked controversy, as the awning partially obscures a mural dedicated to the hit Channel 4 Derry-based sitcom, which is popular with both locals and tourists.
An accompanying Design and Access Statement said Badgers is a well-known traditional bar/restaurant operated by two generations of the McDaid family for over 30 years.
The statement also noted that the mural was permitted on the premises by the McDaid family and has become an “iconic symbol of the city for tourism”, but it is not to be “to the detriment of their business”.
“Talks have been ongoing with relevant parties to have the mural retained and reinvented,” the statement added. “This development has no impact on the listed features of the building in any physical or visual form”.
A council spokesperson confirmed that there is an ongoing public consultation around the application, which includes the circulation of neighbour notification letters and an officers’ report to be completed in due course.
They noted that, although many local planning application decisions are delegated to the Planning Officers, in the event of significant objections being raised the application may be brought before the Planning Committee for review and final decision.
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News Catch Up – Tuesday 4 February