Northern Ireland

£6k spent moving play equipment away from loyalist bonfire

The Chobham Street bonfire site with the playground in the background
The Chobham Street bonfire site with the playground in the background The Chobham Street bonfire site with the playground in the background

THE bill for moving children's play equipment to accommodate a loyalist bonfire in east Belfast was £6,000, it has emerged.

The Alliance Party said on Monday night it was "disgraceful" that so much public money had to be spent clearing the play park at Chobham Street.

Swings and a climbing frame were moved close to the Comber Greenway last month because a large bonfire was built nearby.

Last year dozens of families were forced to leave their homes and windows and doors were boarded up when a huge pyre was built in the area.

A play park was erected on the site in the hope there would not be a repeat this July but material was again gathered nearby and set alight.

Firefighters had to spray foam over houses and businesses to protect them from the heat.

Alliance councillor David Armitage said more needs to be done to make sure there is no repeat next year.

“I realise the council had no alternative due to the proximity of the fire but it beggared belief we ended up in a situation where equipment from a children’s playground was moved in the first place," he said.

“But it makes the situation even more disgraceful to find out it cost so much public money to do so, especially in an area which could have used that money for community development.”

Mr Armitage said the amount of cash spent facilitating the bonfire was “staggering”.

“While everyone has the right to celebrate their cultural traditions in a respectful manner, using the public purse to spend a staggering amount of money to facilitate them at the expense of others should not happen.”