Council want land given for free

Derry City Council wants the Western Education and Library Board to hand over land at the former Faughanvalley school site at Drumahoe for free.

The WELB can do this but has never exercised the power. The council may buy the pitches if the bid fails.

Derry Mayor Gerry Diver said it was important the land came into council ownership "to protect local amenities".

"It's about maintaining the number of pitches in the city and in the area," he said.

The cost of buying the land could run to several hundred thousand pounds which has not been included in the rates estimate for 2009/10.