NI council confirms it does not permit bonfires on its land – but won’t remove them if dangerous

It has also said it has “never consented to unauthorised activity on its land”.

This agreement was reached during a discussion behind closed doors by councillors at a special meeting last month on the way forward for bonfire management in the borough.

However, the council voted against a proposal that would have seen it retain the right to remove bonfires from its land it they presented a risk.

The Council has deferred making a decision on bonfire management for more than a year after being first told to agree a way forward.

The issue came to a head following the death in July 2022 of Larne man John Steele, a father-of-two who was in his 30s, after a fall from the Antiville bonfire which he had been helping to build in the town.

The issue of bonfire management was first placed on the council’s agenda in January 2023. It is understood that legal recommendations have been provided to councillors.

Recently, meetings have been taking place between interim chief executive Valerie Watts and community groups.

The council has acknowledged that locally, bonfires are “an important part of identity, tradition and cultural expression”.

The council has agreed: “In the event communities seek to proceed with a bonfire on council-owned land, council, to mitigate risk, will engage with local communities, seeking to manage and reduce risk through initiatives such as the cultural celebrations grants scheme and the beacon programme, thereby promoting and encouraging safer cultural celebrations wherever possible.”

It was also agreed council officers will liaise with community representatives to develop a “community engagement protocol” which will be brought back to councillors for approval.

The local authority is to commission a two-month consultation “to examine best practice in managing cultural and bonfire celebrations” and will engage with local communities, groups and organisers involved in such events.

The council was responding to a report by officers seeking approval in relation to the management of bonfires.

DUP Councillor Andrew Clarke proposed accepting the recommendations and his amendments and that of independent Rodney Quigley, seconded by party colleague Gregg McKeen.

News Catch Up: Wednesday 10th April 2024

The proposals were carried following a vote with 20 councillors in favour, DUP, Ulster Unionist and Sinn Fein, and 13 against, Alliance, TUV and independent Bobby Hadden.

An amendment was proposed by Alliance’s Lauren Gray that “this council shall undertake to support a policy that protects the public against risk to life and serious risk to property and therefore retains the right to remove bonfires on its property where this risk exists”.

The proposed amendment was seconded by her Alliance colleague Aaron Skinner. It was defeated following a vote in which 10 councillors were in favour and 23 against.