Bonfire scheme extension slammed
Sinn Féin North and West Belfast councillors have slammed the Council’s plans to increase its bonfire programme, which cost Belfast ratepayers a staggering £100,000 last year.
The cost included the allocation of £2,500 towards the management of eight bonfires in a controversial pilot scheme, including Pitt Park in East Belfast where a loyalist show of strength was staged. Two years ago Westland which secured cash for its bonfire last year also hosted a paramilitary show of strength.
Controversy had loomed over the pilot scheme when it was first proposed to give eight bonfires £2,500 each, £20,000 in total. That is on top of nearly £20,000 to retain the services of intermediary group Groundwork who work with loyalist communities on the ground.
And Belfast City Council has confirmed this week that across the city the cost to the ratepayer in administering and cleaning up the bonfires was “about £100,000” with £60,000 going towards the clean up bill.
The programme was fiercely opposed by Sinn Féin’s councillors but passed after the SDLP decided to abstain.
This year the programme is to be extended to include 12 sites - an additional four - across the city. But it won’t include three original sites - Westland, Pitt Park and Sunningdale - as they have withdrawn from the scheme for “no single reason”, according to the Council minutes.
Oldpark councillor Carál Ní Chuilín said the Council would find it hard to explain value for money.
“People will be thinking the council are paying, and they are paying for sectarian effigies to be burnt, shows of strength to be staged while at the same time being described as cultural events. It’s impossible to square that circle.
“If the money was around diversionary activities – if the money was spent this way or on alternative, it would be money well spent. I think the council are going to have a hard job in explaining how this value for money to the ratepayer.”
A Council spokeswoman said the number of sites this year has grown to 12 including one at Lower Falls/Divis.
This bonfire in the Falls was the first since community workers started staging festivals nearly 15 years ago.
Local councillors Tom Hartley and Fra McCann said the community was working hard to ensure there was no repeat of the bonfire, but said it was unfair for the Council to include the incident in its official tally of bonfires.
“Bonfires are sectarian coat-trailing exercises,” said Fra McCann.
“They are directed against the nationalist community where they burn effigies of religious and republican figures.
“They have been used for sectarian shows of strength, and are usually built very close to interface areas, for the ultimate effect of intimidation. Everything revolves around July, and still does. We need to get away from this whole idea where Belfast closes down in July.”
Tom Hartley said residents and politicians had worked hard to eradicate bonfires from the community and replace them with events, like festivals, which reflect a very positive image of our community.
A council spokesperson said: “This is a long-term investment which has resulted in benefits in terms of engaging with communities and reducing the environmental impact of bonfires. We have encouraged a reduced collection time and discouraged the use of tyres, and made some progress on the use of emblems and flags.”
Journalist:: Áine McEntee
