Northern Ireland

Council bonfire scheme in disarray as half of groups fail to sign up

The council will continue to provide funding when loyalist bonfires have racist or sectarian displays
The council will continue to provide funding when loyalist bonfires have racist or sectarian displays The council will continue to provide funding when loyalist bonfires have racist or sectarian displays

A COUNCIL scheme tackling the use of toxic materials on loyalist bonfires is in disarray as nearly half of community groups have failed to sign up.

The Antrim and Newtownabbey initiative offers funding for related family events in exchange for not using tyres and other environmentally harmful materials.

But there are fears many will go back to burning tyres as only 15 of about 26 eligible groups have joined this year's scheme.

The council devised a new funding programme for 2016 amid months of controversy over the handling of the initiative under the old Antrim Borough Council.

In October The Irish News revealed that thousands of pounds of ratepayers' cash intended for family events was instead used to buy wooden pallets.

A damning report commissioned following the revelation heavily criticised the Antrim council initiative for exposing public money to an "increased risk of fraud".

The audit also expressed concern over a former MLA's role in awarding a bouncy castle enterprise he is involved in almost £11,000 from the bonfire fund.

The newly-devised initiative will continue to provide funding when loyalist bonfires use racist or sectarian displays, despite uproar from nationalist councillors.

The unionist-majority council backed funding sanctions over environmental issues such as the burning of tyres.

But a proposal to withhold money for offensive displays such as burning flags and effigies failed to gain enough support.

Ballycraigy is among the groups that have not signed up for the new scheme, which offers those eligible funding of up to £2,700 for related family events.

The notorious Ballycraigy estate bonfire made global headlines in 2014 for its sectarian displays including an effigy of a hanged Gerry Adams.

In January a 19-year-old man was convicted over a racist display at the pyre in a landmark prosecution.

Ballycraigy caused uproar again in 2015 when effigies of Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and hunger striker Bobby Sands in a coffin were placed on the fire.

DUP councillor Nigel Kells said no bonfire groups in Antrim used tyres in recent years but he fears a decade of work could be undone.

He blamed the fall-out on delays in finalising the scheme and calls from nationalists for greater sanctions, leading to some groups opting out.

"My fear would be that with the uncertainty of what was going on groups have sourced tyres. I have seen a few signs up saying to dump rubbish and tyres," he said.

"I would be really disappointed if we end up in a situation where we do have fire crews out or we have to hose down houses because we have tyres burning."

He added: "Now we face a situation where we go back to burning tyres, which is a regression in Antrim."

In a statement, a council spokeswoman said: "Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council recently approved a new bonfire management programme which outlines how the council will support family fun events associated with bonfire sites that comply with the conditions of the agreement, e.g. an agreed collection date and no burning of tyres.

"The agreement also outlines the type of activities that will be eligible for funding including daytime festivals, fun day activities, purchase of food and refreshments as well as venue hire and musical entertainment.

"The council will review the programme in August and make any adjustments that are deemed necessary."