News

Mid Ulster council launches bonfire consultation

Mid Ulster District Council has launched a consultation into its proposed bonfire policy
Mid Ulster District Council has launched a consultation into its proposed bonfire policy Mid Ulster District Council has launched a consultation into its proposed bonfire policy

A PUBLIC consultation into controversial plans to introduce a bonfire licensing scheme in Mid Ulster has been launched.

Unionist reacted angrily after the nationalist controlled Mid Ulster District Council (MUDC) voted in April to introduce a licensing scheme for bonfires located on land controlled by it.

It is believed to be the first time a council in the north has moved to regulate bonfires through such a scheme.

Under any new policy bonfire organisers will have to ensure that "no hazardous or toxic materials are collected, stored or burned", and that "no flags, emblems or effigies are burned".

They will also have to provide public liability insurance.

Several posters have been put up in loyalist areas across the district which appear to threaten council staff.

Threatening posters have been put up in Mid Ulster
Threatening posters have been put up in Mid Ulster Threatening posters have been put up in Mid Ulster

A 13-week consultation will be carried out before the final policy is completed.

Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McGinley has urged members of the public to take part in the consultation.

“The purpose of our council’s policy is to ensure that all bonfires which occupy council-owned land are built in a way which adheres to Health and Safety policy, paying particular notice to protecting Good Relations,” he said.

“We want to see bonfires which present no threat to life, property or the environment and which are free from hate crime.”

British Truth Forum spokesman Will Lennox urged unionists to oppose the policy.

“We cannot state enough how important it is for the British community to stand firm and together against Sinn Féin controlled MUDC’s bonfire licensing proposals.

“Anyone signing up to this dictatorship, would weaken everyone’s chances of stopping this,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Mid Ulster council said “we welcome views from the local community, key stakeholders and all interested parties”.