There has been a call for an “agreed outcome” to one of the north’s costliest bonfires, ahead of the pyre being lit in Co Antrim.
The bonfire site on Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus has a history of sparking concern, from the costs of repairing the road, to fears that the structure could topple over even before being lit.
Since 2017, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) – which owns the land on which it is located – has spent £32,743 on repairing the damage caused by the fire at the site, which is close to a petrol station.
The construction of the bonfire itself also prompted safety fears in 2017 when it was built with flaws in the structure that left it looking unstable, just yards from where vehicles pass by.
The total costs of the road repair at Prince Andrew Way over an eight year period were revealed through an Assembly written question by Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson.
Meanwhile, an Irish News Freedom of Information request further drilled into the costs associated with bonfires including the Carrick pyre, revealing that in 2021, the Prince Andrew Way site repair bill alone was £8,326 – over half of the total £15,001 spent on repairing sites across all of greater Belfast, and almost 30% of the total repair bill for sites across the north that year.
Mr Dickson told The Irish News the bonfire will once again leave DfI facing costly repairs.
“There is a perceptible lean, this time away from the road – but the reality is it’s too close to the road, and so will ultimately collapse and cause damage.
“I’m not opposed to safe bonfire celebrations, including through beacons, but some of these are being built without safety concerns.”
Boards have been erected at a fence surrounding a nearby former community centre building – beside the petrol station – in an apparent bid to protect it from the bonfire.
Mid and East Antrim Sinn Féin councillor James McKeown said the bonfire “obviously is a very dangerous risk to public health and safety”.
“I would call on those responsible for it and all the agencies involved including the council to work towards a agreed outcome,” he said.
“The safety of all in the community should be our paramount concern.”
The Irish News approached DfI for comment.
A Mid and East Antrim Borough Council spokesperson said the local authority will “continue to work with statutory partners and other landowners to ensure any concerns relating to bonfires are managed appropriately”.
The council does not own the land on which the bonfire site is located, but in previous years has said it would work with partner agencies “to ensure the safety of the public”.
A NI Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: NIFRS is prepared and ready to respond to incidents to protect life and property. We encourage people to act responsibly and stay safe. In the event of an emergency, dial 999 and ask for Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service.
“Remember, if we are tasked to a bonfire related incident, it is because someone from the local community has a concern and requires assistance.”
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