Northern Ireland

Council removes 1,800 tyres from Belfast bonfire

Contractors, accompanied by police, arrived at the site on London Road to remove the tyres
Contractors, accompanied by police, arrived at the site on London Road to remove the tyres Contractors, accompanied by police, arrived at the site on London Road to remove the tyres

BELFAST City Council has taken action on a bonfire in the south of the city, sending in contractors to remove 1,800 tyres.

The workmen, accompanied by police, arrived at the site on London Road, near Ravenhill Road, at about 7am.

A bystander observed that forklifts were lifting the tyres "nine or 10 at a time" and that two articulated lorries were used to remove them from the site.

There was a large police presence in the area and neighbouring Lismore Street was cordoned off to allow the operation to take place.

A PSNI spokesperson said police were in attendance to ensure there was no breach of the peace.

Removing tyres from the site near the Ravenhill Road
Removing tyres from the site near the Ravenhill Road Removing tyres from the site near the Ravenhill Road

A council spokeswoman said the action was only being taken to remove tyres, and not to dismantle the bonfire.

Read More: Bonfire risk sees residents advised to leave homes

In a statement the council said its approach to "managing bonfires is led by elected members".

"A member-led decision making process has been agreed to consider issues and make decisions on a site by site basis," it continued.

SDLP MLA Claire Hanna said the decision to remove the tyres was a public safety issue.

"Burning tyres is both illegal and toxic," she said. "This is about protecting the health of people in the area, particularly children, so they will not be breathing in toxic smoke.

"It is important this decision is not blown out of proportion. It is a fair and appropriate response by the council."

It had been predicted that the council would not attempt to interfere with the Eleventh night bonfires to avoid raising tensions.

Contractors at the scene as tyres are removed from the bonfire in south Belfast. Photo Pacemaker Press
Contractors at the scene as tyres are removed from the bonfire in south Belfast. Photo Pacemaker Press Contractors at the scene as tyres are removed from the bonfire in south Belfast. Photo Pacemaker Press

The removal of the tyres also appears to be a change of approach by the council. Last year, it focused on the height of the structures, rather than tyres, removing pallets and dismantling one completely at Cluan Place and moving in to remove another at Bloomfield Walkway.

At the time, police said the pyres posed "a significant risk to people and property in the area".

Read More: DUP responds after councillors pose at tricolour-burning bonfire

This year, the Bloomfield Walkway site is closed for ongoing environmental improvement work, with pallets being collected at a neighbouring site instead.

It is understood the bonfires at Cluan Place, Avoniel Leisure Centre and Inverary, along the Sydenham Bypass, will be discussed at a meeting of Belfast City Council today.

The East Belfast Cultural Collective last night said it did not encourage tyres on bonfires but did not think sending masked contractors to remove them was helpful.

"Bonfire builders on the cultural expression site had arrived at a voluntary agreement with statutory agencies to have the tyres removed by consent," a spokesman said.

The scene of the bonfire on London Road, near the Ravenhill Road. Photo Pacemaker Press
The scene of the bonfire on London Road, near the Ravenhill Road. Photo Pacemaker Press The scene of the bonfire on London Road, near the Ravenhill Road. Photo Pacemaker Press

"A number of loyalist representatives were on the ground to try and defuse tensions on Sunday morning, however there is huge anger within the community and across a number of other cultural expression sites who fear they could be next to be targeted.

"We want to continue to work towards delivering a positive, peaceful and proud cultural celebration across all cultural expression sites."