The Mayor of Derry yesterday welcomed an announcement from the RUC that Bishop Gate in the city is to be reopened to traffic tomorrow morning for just the second time in the last 10 years. The Bishop Street gate in the city walls is bordered on one side by Derry's courthouse, and on the other by the British army's main city centre base, both of which have been targeted by bombers. The gate is situated along one of the main roads leading to the Diamond area of the city centre and traders there have been campaigning for its reopening for several years. "This is good news for city centre traders, particularly coming up to Christmas," said the Mayor, Mr Martin Bradley.
Mr Ernest Howie, of the City Centre Traders' Association, said the reopening of the gate, through which traffic will exit from the city centre along a one-way system, was a major boost to city centre retailers.