RADICAL plans to regenerate Londonderry through the expansion of university facilities have been wished well in Westminster.
The message came as part of a congratulatory message delivered to the advisor to the University for Derry (U4D) group. Professor David Chiddick is advisor to the U4D group and an Early Day Motion wishes him well in his work with Londonderry. The moti
on has been signed by several MPs.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell has given his backing to any group who can improve further and higher education in Londonderry.
“I am in favour of developing further and higher education as a whole in Londonderry without ‘picking sides’ as it were. I don’t want to be pidgeon-holed, whether it is the expansion of Magee or this new plan I am willing to give my backing to improving further and higher education in Londonderry and indeed through Northern Ireland. I can support improving education by whatever means.”
Professor David Chiddick is one of those behind the U4D plans to regenerate Londonderry through University leadership. He has received congratulations from an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons at Westminster. The Motion “wishes him well in seeking university-led regeneration of the Northern Ireland city of Derry-Londonderry through the University for Derry group.”
The congratulations were given to Professor Chiddick for his work with the University of Lincoln in the message. Chair of U4D, Padraig Canavan says he deserves the praise.
“The praise for David Chiddick is well founded. He is one of the most highly respected academics in the UK, who has helped bring about the economic transformation of the city of Lincoln through the university-led regeneration of that city.”
Mr Canavan draws parallels between the success of Lincoln through the University of Lincoln and the potential of Londonderry. “Lincoln is a city very similar to Derry-Londonderry: it is the same size, had the same economic problems and also had a similarly low level of graduates in its population.
“The city’s civic, community and business leaders had the sense to recognize that economic transformation could best be achieved by the creation of what was effectively a new university there in 2001. They then had the good fortune to benefit from David Chiddick’s inspirational leadership of that new university.”
He added: “We in Derry-Londonderry now have the benefit of Professor Chiddick’s help and advice in developing plans to do the same thing here now that he has retired.”
The Early Day Motion in Parliament came as a message of congratulations for Professor Chiddick on his retirement from his role at in Lincoln.
The U4D plan has been published on their website: www.u4d.eu
