Latest news with #BelfastCity
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Belfast police declare major incident over controversial loyalist bonfire
Contractors are on standby to remove a loyalist bonfire in south Belfast, which has sparked concern due to its proximity to an electricity substation and hospitals. The bonfire, located on Meridi Street, is set to be lit on 11 July ahead of annual Orange Order parades. Concerns include potential damage to the electricity substation, which powers two major Belfast hospitals, and the presence of asbestos within the bonfire materials. Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee voted for the bonfire's removal, with the Police Service of Northern Ireland declaring it a "major incident" and establishing a Tactical Coordination Group. Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan criticised unionist leadership for not calling for its removal, while crowds gathered to guard the bonfire, blocking access points.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Belfast: City council set to bid to purchase Assembly Rooms
The historic Assembly Rooms in Belfast may soon be bought by the city council in a deal costing more than £2m.A committee at City Hall has agreed to make an offer to take the derelict 18th Century building out of private Assembly Rooms were the site of the famous Belfast Harp Festival in 1792, which led to the preservation of the ancient tradition of Irish of the proposed purchase are confidential but the cost is thought to be in the region of £2.7m. 'Full-circle moment' A council spokesperson told BBC News NI: "Elected members agreed that the council should purchase the Assembly Rooms and associated lands. The committee gave authority for the council to make an offer to the landowner."These lands include part of the North Street car park, 5-9 North Street and Braddell's Building, a grade B1 listed building at 11 North Street."This decision remains subject to ratification at the next full meeting of council."Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown welcomed the move and said it would be a "full-circle moment" if the Assembly Rooms returned to public has yet to be decided exactly how the Assembly Rooms would be utilised by the council. 'Huge moment' The historic building belongs to Castlebrooke Investments, which is behind the delayed Tribeca development in Belfast city in 1769, the Assembly Rooms are at the corner of North Street and Waring Street. In spite of the building's historical and cultural significance, it has fallen out of use in the past two Assembly Rooms have been placed on a list of global 'at risk' heritage sites by the World Monuments Green Party described news of the council's potential purchase as a "huge moment" for Belfast.A spokesperson said: "We are delighted at being able to secure the future of this historic building and are excited for what the next chapter of this culturally significant site will hold."The next full meeting of the city council is due to take place on 1 September, when a final decision is expected to be taken.
BreakingNews.ie
10-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Tensions smoulder over two controversial loyalist bonfires
Tensions are continuing to smoulder around two controversial loyalist bonfires in the North as time ticks down to when they are due to be lit. In Belfast, a city council committee voted to send contractors to remove a towering pyre close to an electricity substation in the south of the city which powers two hospitals, on a site which also contains asbestos. Advertisement On Wednesday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had received a formal request for assistance from the council to support contractors to remove the bonfire on Meridi Street off the Donegall Road. A bonfire on Broadway Industrial Estate off Donegal Road in south Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA A PSNI spokesperson said they had declared it as a major incident, and a Tactical Coordination Group had been established with multi-agency partners to ensure joint understanding and to comprehensively assess all of the risks associated with this request. 'No decision has been taken at this stage and we continue to work with our partner agencies and community representatives on this matter,' they added. Crowds took to the street on the Donegall Road in south Belfast late on Wednesday night vowing to remain on site all night to defend the bonfire. Advertisement Some fireworks were set off and a smaller bonfire set alight, while a car was placed to block the entrance to the site on Meridi Street. A car blocks the entrance to a site off the Donegall Road in south Belfast where a controversial loyalist bonfire has been sited close to an electricity substation. Photo: Rebecca Black/PA Meanwhile, there are calls to remove effigies of migrants in a boat that have been placed on a loyalist bonfire in Moygashel on the outskirts of Dungannon in Co Tyrone. The boat containing more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets was unveiled on top of the bonfire. Below the boat are several placards, one stating 'stop the boats' and another 'veterans before refugees'. Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland director, described the bonfire as a 'vile, dehumanising act that fuels hatred and racism'. Advertisement 'Amnesty International urges the authorities to ensure its immediate removal and calls on the PSNI to investigate and hold those responsible to account,' he said. 'A clear and unequivocal message must be sent that xenophobia and incitement to hatred have no place in our society.' A display on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Photo: Jonathan McCambridge/PA They are among around 300 set to be lit across Thursday and Friday night ahead of the Orange Order's July 12th parades on Saturday. The traditional fires are lit ahead of the main date in the parading calendar of Protestant loyal orders, the Twelfth Of July. Advertisement While most of the bonfires pass off without incident, several have become the focus of contention due to the placing of flags, effigies and election posters on the structures before they are ignited.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Contractor ‘on standby' to remove controversial Belfast bonfire
Contractors are 'on standby' to remove a loyalist bonfire in south Belfast which has sparked concern, a Sinn Fein MLA has said. Legal action is also understood to be planned against the towering pyre close to an electricity substation which powers two major Belfast hospitals. It is set to be lit on July 11 ahead of annual Orange Order parades on July 12. NIE Networks said it has put mitigations in place at the substation to reduce the risk of damage at the site, which is also described as containing asbestos. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visited the site on Tuesday to monitor the situation. A developer owns the land at the Broadway Industrial Estate off the Donegall Road where the bonfire is situated. Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee is understood to have discussed the situation during a meeting on Wednesday. Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan said the committee voted to have the bonfire removed from where it is currently situated. He also challenged deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to 'speak out' and accused unionism of a 'lack of leadership'. 'My understanding is the contractor is now on standby,' he told media at Belfast City Hall on Wednesday afternoon. 'We can think of no other scenario where a structure like this beside electrical infrastructure wouldn't be swiftly removed, and that's the situation we're in at the minute. 'There has been a lack of leadership from unionism around this issue. 'If that bonfire was situated 200 yards across the Westlink, all of our political leadership would be out, calling for it to be removed and it would be removed. 'Contractors will move in at some stage to remove that bonfire.' He added: 'Why is Emma Little-Pengelly not out calling for that bonfire to be demolished and dismantled. 'The responsibility rests with unionism to show some leadership. 'This is clearly a health and safety issue, there's a danger to residents, to children, to patients and everyone around that surrounding area.' A spokesperson for Belfast City Council confirmed the committee approved the use of a contractor to remove bonfire materials from the site. 'Members of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee decided to approve the use of a contractor to remove bonfire materials from the site at Broadway Industrial Estate,' they said. 'Elected members also decided that the council would write to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to seek assurance that the NIEA will fulfil its obligations in relation to the site.'
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Concern after loyalist bonfire in Belfast sited close to electricity substation
Concern has been expressed over the siting of a loyalist bonfire close to an electricity substation in Belfast. The location of the towering pyre is also close to two major Belfast hospitals, and is set to be lit on July 11 ahead of annual Orange Order parades on July 12. A spokesperson for the Belfast Health Trust confirmed the substation supplies power to both the Royal Victoria Hospital and Belfast City Hospital. They said they are continuing to monitor developments in relation to the bonfire, and said at this stage there is no requirement to cancel any appointments. 'Our staff will remain in contact with relevant stakeholders over the coming days,' they said. 'On-site contingency measures include emergency backup generators, which are tested regularly. 'Belfast Trust continues to review these arrangements with clinical teams at the BCH site. The Trust is satisfied that there is currently no requirement to cancel any planned treatments or procedures.' Health Minister Mike Nesbitt paid a 'fact-finding visit to the site' on Tuesday. A department spokesperson said he took part in the visit 'in line with his ministerial responsibilities', and will receive updates from Belfast Trust and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. NIE Networks said it has put mitigations in place at the substation to reduce the risk of damage. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is working with Belfast City Council to cover asbestos containing material at the site and erect additional fencing. Although a spokesperson said it is 'primarily the responsibility of the landowner'. Stormont Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole, who represents South Belfast, also expressed concern around the presence of asbestos on the site. 'The issue of the bonfire at Donegall Road exposes the democratic scandal of how this place works,' he said in a post on the social media network X. 'There is a credible risk to public health but neither the responsible Alliance environment minister, UUP health minister nor any Executive party will say anything. Why not?' NIE Networks said it has met with relevant stakeholders to express its concerns over the bonfire's proximity to the substation causing potential risk to critical infrastructure and power outages. 'Mitigations have been put in place, including turning off the transformers adjacent to the bonfire, building scaffolding with metal sheeting around the transformers and placing steel plates on open cable ducts to reduce the risk of fire and damage,' they said. 'Whilst these mitigations are in place, there will be a reduction in security of supply for the area. 'We would remind the public that flames near to power lines and electricity substations pose serious risk to everyone's safety and wellbeing.' DAERA also said that Northern Ireland Environment Agency officials remain in ongoing contact with the council and enforcement investigation continues in relation to the site. The bonfire, just off the Donegall Road, is one of an estimated 300 set to be lit across July 10-11 in Northern Ireland. Most of the bonfires, which are normally lit ahead of loyal order parades across the region on July 12, pass off without incident. However the fires, ranging from towering structures to beacons, have sparked anger following the burning of flags, effigies and election posters in the past. One of the tallest bonfires in recent years has been at Craigyhill in Larne, which reportedly reached 62 metres in 2022.
