Strabane Cemetery gates will remain open

A LOCAL councillor has confirmed that the gates of Strabane Cemetery are to remain open following concerns they would close due to the darker evenings.

Sinn Féin's Paul Boggs made representations to council following local concerns expressed after a social media notice by Derry City and Strabane District Council.

It announced reduced ‘winter’ opening hours of 8am to 4.30pm for "all council cemeteries" in the district from November 1 until February 29.

Following contact with council officials on the issue, councillor Boggs said: "There has been a huge outpouring of emotion emanating from council’s social media post on Monday.

“I have been advised that in 2016, due to antisocial behaviour in cemeteries and concerns raised by members of the public, elected members requested that the gates be closed in the evenings.

“The issues of anti-social behaviour were not as high in Strabane as they were in other areas and therefore the gates of Strabane will now remain open at all times with complaints being monitored by council.

“I hope this information will allay some of the concerns of the people who contacted me.”