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Councillors in Belfast have agreed not to remove a loyalist bonfire at a leisure center in the east of the city.<\/p>\nCouncillors in Belfast have agreed not to remove a loyalist bonfire at a leisure center in the east of the city.<\/p>\n
Members of Belfast City Council\u2019s strategic policy and resources committee said they will instead pursue individuals for trespassing, investigate leaks around contractors, and form a working group for future years.<\/p>\n
Two PSNI vehicles arrived at the site of the bonfire at Avoniel Leisure Center at around 5am on Thursday.<\/p>\n
A woman read a statement from inside one of the vehicles, which was relayed on a loudspeaker, requesting that those on Belfast City Council property vacate the area.<\/p>\n
The move came after the committee voted earlier this week to send contractors in to remove material from the bonfire in the leisure center\u2019s car park.<\/p>\n
But after another meeting of the committee on Thursday morning, Alliance councilor Michael Long said it would be \u201ccounter-productive\u201d to remove the material on July 11.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have got to take on board that there are children, young people and older people in that area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do have to say that statutory agencies have to really get a grip on this. Belfast City Council has taken the lead on this over the last two or three years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about time other statutory agencies lived up to their needs and what they should actually deliver for people.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is really disappointing that a democratically taken decision in Belfast City Council cannot be implemented, and that is a worrying development.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police are continuing to maintain a presence in the wider area.<\/p>\n
DUP councilor George Dorrian said: \u201cWhat we wanted was a positive outcome to this situation, we certainly didn\u2019t want anything to be inflamed or any confrontation with the police or council.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think this is sensible way forward. We don\u2019t have contractors in place and that\u2019s the reality of where we are.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to take this forward and already look towards a more positive bonfire season and cultural celebrations.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement, a spokeswoman for Belfast City Council\u2019s Strategic Policy & Resources Committee (SP&R) said: \u201cMembers were updated that a PSNI investigation is under way at Avoniel Leisure Center following a complaint of aggravated trespass.<\/p>\n
\u201cMembers agreed to establish an all-party working group, reporting to the SP&R committee, to put in place a framework to achieve more effective management of bonfires.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey also expressed a need for further robust dialogue with other agencies on the issue of bonfires, including concerns around the involvement of paramilitaries in some cases.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe committee reiterated its support for the PSNI to take action against those committing and orchestrating aggravated trespass at Avoniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cMembers again expressed their concern about the involvement of the east Belfast UVF in the unlawful occupation of the Avoniel site.\u201d<\/p>\n
A number of bonfire builders were spotted putting tires into a van shortly after the council released a statement.<\/p>\n
Robert Girvin, from the East Belfast Cultural Collective, said he was \u201cglad\u201d at the council\u2019s decision, however he criticized a decision to pursue prosecutions.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThis is a public park, there\u2019s a child\u2019s playground here and football pitches. Are they going to prosecute the people of Avoniel for using Avoniel Leisure Center?<\/p>\n
\u201cPettiness in the extreme. It\u2019s just getting daft.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a relief on behalf of the community but even if the police had moved in here there would have been disappointment and frustration but there would have been no violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlliance and Sinn F\u00e9in are denying children the use of a play park.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless the UVF is 70-year-old grannies and 12-year-old children, there\u2019s no UVF involvement here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in councilor Ciaran Beattie said he was \u201cdisappointed\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelfast Council made a democratic decision to remove all bonfire materials from that site,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis site has been occupied for a number of days now, illegally. We have informed anyone on that site they need to remove themselves, they are trespassing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s disappointing that the contractors have been threatened and the threat has came through to the council, from the police, to say the east Belfast UVF have threatened contractors and possibly with the use of firearms which is a very worrying situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis bonfire is illegal, it\u2019s a council leisure facility. It\u2019s been occupied, the gates have been barricaded, there\u2019s been UVF flags put up around the site, a bonfire has been put in the car park without permission.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis council still stands firm this is an illegal bonfire.\u201d<\/p>\n
A council spokeswoman said anyone on the site would be regarded as trespassing until the leisure center reopens next week.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cCouncil is anxious to secure the property and clear the site in order to prepare for return to normal use and provision of service to its ratepayers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bonfire and supporters remain on site.<\/p>\n
Organizers said they hope to light the bonfire as planned later on Thursday at the start of the loyalist Twelfth of July celebrations.<\/p>\n
The council committee had been warned by police that guns could be used during severe violence orchestrated by loyalist paramilitaries if the bonfire material was removed.<\/p>\n
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: \u201cThe intelligence picture indicates that any attempt by the council to remove bonfire material will cause a severe violent confrontation, orchestrated by the UVF.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe use of firearms during such disorder cannot be ruled out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert Girvin, from the East Belfast Cultural Collective, described what happened at the scene early on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cA female council officer from the back of the vehicle read a statement out informing us all that we were aggravated trespassing on council property,\u201d he told PA.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this time I can\u2019t fault the PSNI, the PSNI came down and talked to us on the site, they have been amicable, informed us honestly and openly what is going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Girvin also rejected a suggestion that the bonfire is controlled by the UVF.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is controlled by the grannies, the mothers, the sisters, the children, the people of the local community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s who controls this, that\u2019s who organizes it and that\u2019s who wants it. No-one wants violence.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Wednesday evening, local residents organized a family fun day beside the 20ft (6m) high pallet bonfire. It included a performance of loyalist songs by the Rising Sons Flute Band.<\/p>\n
Organizers warned against violence but acknowledged anger in the community over the planned clearance.<\/p>\n
Huge bonfires will be lit in loyalist areas across Northern Ireland late on Thursday night to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the Protestant loyal order marching season marking the 1690 Battle of the Boyne.<\/p>\n
While most fires are lit without major incident, a number continue to prove contentious, with the authorities having taken action in recent years on structures deemed unsafe and posing a threat to nearby properties.<\/p>\n