RESIDENTS living in an apartment block damaged by an Eleventh Night bonfire are due to hold a meeting with statutory agencies and elected representatives this evening, amidst concerns that tenants will be left to pay for the repairs themselves.
Firefighters had to douse Victoria Place, in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast, with water during the bonfire to prevent the building catching fire.
There was scorch damage to properties and windows left shattered and cracked following the blaze on Wellwood Street last week.
Tenants have expressed anger at the prospect of having to foot the bill for repairs themselves, after various statutory agencies indicated it was not their responsibility.
It is believed that representatives of the Housing Executive, Belfast City Council, Fire Service and PSNI are among those due to meet tenants to discuss the damage at tonight's meeting at the building.
A resident of Victoria Place said that while invitations have been extended to all elected representatives covering the Botanic ward, not all have replied.
No unionists are understood to have attended the only previous meeting since the bonfire, held last Thursday with residents, politicians and a representative of the Fire Service.
The resident said there had not yet been any contact from DUP South Belfast MLA Christopher Stalford, who faced criticism on Monday when he twice refused to say if he accepted that the bonfire was too near to the apartments.
Asked whether he would arrange to meet residents, Mr Stalford said: "I have a constituency office across the road from the apartment block.....If people wish to meet me I will make myself available. I am happy to meet with them."
One resident described the approach as "a joke", adding: "There are 160 families in the building. Will he accommodate the 160 simultaneously? Does he expect us to take time off work to call down? It is a joke that he will not come to meet residents at the scene where this happened."
The Housing Executive owns the land on which the bonfire was built, while Belfast City Council has admitted having stored pallets.
Green Party South Belfast MLA Clare Bailey said: "The building manager said the insurance company will pay for the repairs, but only on the condition that a government department or authority will agree to pay them back at a later date."
The DUP did not respond to requests for comment yesterday from The Irish News on the bonfire and whether Christopher Stalford or any party colleagues would attend tonight's meeting.
