Causeway Council row over plan to rename Limavady arts centre

The Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre was officially opened in October 2010, and it is understood branding for the centre, at the time, cost in the region of £15,000.

The facility was also named bilingually, Ionad Ealaíon agus Cultúir Ghleann na Ró.

The decision to rename the facility The Alexander Memorial Arts Centre was taken at a leisure and development committee meeting on Tuesday, following a debate on a motion from Ulster Unionist councillor Aaron Callan.

He told members the original town hall in Limavady was named after S M Alexander, a figure everyone in Limavady should be proud of.

Mr Callan said Mr Alexander built a school and a factory in the town, and was a positive figure who had huge significance for the history and heritage of the local area.

“Here was a guy who was an entrepreneur who spent a large amount of his time and money into improving his local area,” he said, adding the name Alexander had been in official use for well over 100 years.

“This is a positive person who everyone in the community can get behind,” said Mr Callan.

However, SDLP councillor Gerry Mullan said to rename the facility now, more than five years after it opened, would be detrimental to the centre’s reputation and an established brand.

Mr Mullan referred to the success of the centre, including hosting the famous Broighter Gold exhibition in 2013. He said renaming it now would be damaging, not to mention the financial costs involved.

He pointed out when the former Limavady Borough Council was choosing a name for the facility it was an Ulster Unionist colleague of Mr Callan who proposed Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre.

Councillors were told by corporate director, Richard Baker, to change the signage alone would cost £12,000. He said various consultations would also be required.

UUP councillor Darryl Wilson said he couldn’t grasp how the name Alexander was offensive, or could be seen as not being neutral.

Mr Mullan responded explaining Mr Alexander was a huge landowner and his name was associated with the unionist community and it did not sit well with a lot of nationalists in the Limavady area.

He said renaming the centre after Mr Alexander would destroy its reputation as an open and friendly venue for everyone.

Sinn Fein councillor Kieran Mulholland said there was no need to change the name and branded it “plain silly”, and said council was “throwing money down the drain a week after setting the rates”.

TUV councillor Boyd Douglas said he was happy to support the name change, and said: “Council throws money at things not as important as this.” He said he couldn’t see how the name was offensive in any shape, form or fashion.

Mr Callan spoke again, at length, to say the name had already been there for well over 100 years but had been left out. He said councillors should be trying to emulate Mr Alexander “who delivered for his local area”.

Unionists on the committee voted for the motion, while Sinn Fein and SDLP members voted against it.

The matter will now go to a full council meeting later this month.