Safety concerns stop removal of bonfire material

Private owners of the site, where material has appeared, say they have "not authorised the current activity" in Meenan Square

The owners of private land in Londonderry where people have forced entry to build a contentious bonfire cannot find a contractor willing to clear the site.

Pallets and rubber tyres have been gathered at Meenan Square in the Bogside ahead of a planned bonfire, which is to be lit on Thursday night.

Apex Housing Association, which owns the land, said all options to remove the materials had been explored but no contractors were willing to help them due to "health and safety concerns".

A spokesperson said it had "not authorised the current activity" and recognised "the distress and potential danger that these activities pose to local residents and visitors in the area".

Why is the bonfire being lit?

Bonfires on 15 August are traditional in some nationalist parts of Northern Ireland to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption.

Some bonfires are also lit in August to commemorate the introduction of internment without trial of republican suspects during the Troubles, which was introduced by the UK Government in 1971.

Apex Housing says "all options to remove materials from the site have been explored"

Apex Housing said it had worked with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and engaged with local representatives and statutory bodies to "mitigate the risks associated with a bonfire at Meenan Square". 

“We have not authorised the current activity on the Meenan Square site and continue to re-secure boundary fencing and gates after each incident of forced entry. 

Apex said it remained committed to working with all relevant parties to find a resolution that "ensures the safety and well-being of the local community".

Fr Canny said other areas of the city had moved away from bonfires

Derry priest Fr Michael Canny said he was “disappointed” a bonfire was planned in the area and urged those behind it to reconsider.

“If they have something to celebrate, which perhaps they have at this time, they should do it in a positive way instead of causing mayhem and vandalism in their own community,” he told BBC News NI.

SDLP councillor John Boyle said Apex had “worked very hard” to try to find a resolution.

“Understandably part of the problem is any contractor would be reluctant to move into the area if their safety couldn’t or wouldn’t be guaranteed,” he told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme.

'Alternative positive activities'

In a statement, Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) said Meenan Square was not council-owned land and that the council did not authorise or regulate bonfires.

A spokesperson said the council does, however, engage with a wide range of statutory and community partners “to minimise the impact on local communities”.

In June, councillors approved £15,000 towards “directed intervention activity” in the area during July and August.

“The funding is targeted at finding new and alternative positive activities that will benefit the local community,” the spokesperson added.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it would continue to work with with the local community, council and other partners to “ensure members of the public and residents are kept safe".

An “appropriate and proportionate policing operation” will be in place in relation to the site, police added.