Northern Ireland

DUP absent from meeting over flats damaged by Belfast bonfire

Sinn Féin's Deirdre Hargey, Alliance's Paula Bradshaw, the SDLP's Claire Hanna and the Green Party's Clare Bailey after meeting Victoria Place residents. Picture by Declan Roughan
Sinn Féin's Deirdre Hargey, Alliance's Paula Bradshaw, the SDLP's Claire Hanna and the Green Party's Clare Bailey after meeting Victoria Place residents. Picture by Declan Roughan Sinn Féin's Deirdre Hargey, Alliance's Paula Bradshaw, the SDLP's Claire Hanna and the Green Party's Clare Bailey after meeting Victoria Place residents. Picture by Declan Roughan

THE DUP was criticised last night for failing to attend a meeting with residents of an apartment block damaged by a loyalist bonfire in Belfast.

The meeting involving statutory agencies and elected representatives was held at the Victoria Place flats near Sandy Row.

Windows were left shattered and cracked and the apartment block sustained scorch damage due to last week's Eleventh Night bonfire.

Firefighters had to douse the building on Wellwood Street with water to prevent it catching fire as shocked residents looked on from inside.

They have since been left asking questions over who will foot the repair bill – and have called for action to prevent bonfire problems in future years.

The private meeting was held yesterday evening in the apartment block's foyer, where metal barriers still cordon off ground-floor windows damaged by last week's blaze.

Senior officials from Belfast City Council, the Housing Executive, the PSNI and Fire Service were in attendance.

The meeting was also attended by political representatives from Alliance, the Green Party, SDLP and Sinn Féin.

However, there were no politicians from unionist parties.

Read more: Residents tell of bonfire 'night of hell'Opens in new window ]

DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly and MLA Christopher Stalford have both been criticised over their response to concerns about the bonfire.

Speaking after last night's meeting, SDLP MLA Claire Hanna described the absence of unionist politicians as "very disappointing".

"As the politicians with the largest mandate from this neighbourhood the DUP have to stop hiding and engage with the residents," she said.

Green Party MLA Clare Bailey also said the DUP should "engage with the residents".

"They need to understand and hear the fears. They need to see the consequences. They need to understand that every person in this building was put at serious risk."

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw attended with party councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown, who organised the meeting with statutory agencies.

Ms Bradshaw described it as "constructive", adding: "I do get a sense that the Housing Executive have finally woken up to their legal responsibility over the land."

She said a residents' group is being set up to liaise with elected representatives and the authorities.

Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Hargey said the issue of the annual bonfire "might lead to a legal challenge" over who is liable for it.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said she felt there was "a lot of passing the buck" during the meeting, but added: "I think people need an outlet to vent, so fair play to the people who turned up."

Asked why no DUP representatives attended the meeting, a party spokesman last night said they "weren't invited".

The bonfire was at the centre of controversy ahead of the Twelfth after The Irish News revealed that the council had been storing pallets at ratepayers' expense.

The Housing Executive, which owns the land, also confirmed it helped by providing skips.

The council has since launched an investigation into the storage decision.

Meanwhile, Labour's shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith has visited residents in Dungannon whose homes were damaged by an Eleventh Night bonfire.

Following the visit with Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew yesterday, he wrote on Twitter: "We need to address this issue of bonfires."