Latest news with #MeridiStreet
The Independent
12-07-2025
- The Independent
Watch: Eleventh Night bonfires lit across Northern Ireland
Showing now | News 00:24 Hebe Campbell Watch a compilation of beacon bonfires being set alight across Belfast as communities mark the Eleventh Night. Footage captures towering bonfires in areas such as Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road, and Orangefield Park in east Belfast, among others across Northern Ireland. While most events passed peacefully, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service responded to 72 bonfire-related incidents from Friday night into Saturday.
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
03-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Belfast City Council warns of legal action over 'asbestos' at bonfire site
Belfast City Council is considering legal action against the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) over concerns about suspected asbestos at a bonfire follows complaints over materials on derelict land beside Meridi Street near the Westlink road in the south of the NIEA said it was informed of "potentially hazardous waste" and enquiries were council said it "continues to engage" with NIEA and the landowner to ensure the materials are removed "as soon as possible". It said councillors agreed "this may include pursuing legal action against the NIEA and/or the landowner, if the necessary steps are not taken".An "abatement notice" has also been served requiring the landowner to secure and contain the materials, the council are lit annually in unionist communities across Northern Ireland to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the region's parading discussed the Meridi Street site behind closed doors at a committee meeting on committee agreed to "delegate authority to officers to undertake legal action and the necessary steps to secure the site", according to the believe the cost of removing the material could be a six-figure sum, sources have told BBC News is believed legal action could involve seeking a court injunction. Previous action over asbestos In a statement, the council said it previously took enforcement action and secured the site due to asbestos in 2011."When this work was completed, officers were satisfied that the site did not pose any risk to people living or working in the area, but were clear that we could not state there was no contamination left at the site," it said."Council became aware of a further issue at this site last month and has been engaging with the landowner to ensure that suspected asbestos containing materials were adequately secured."The current landowner has put temporary measures in place to fence off the materials." 'Deeply worrying' Alliance Party assembly member Paula Bradshaw described the "asbestos pile" as "deeply worrying".Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme last month, she expressed concern at the "potential" of young people using the material on the Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillor Séamas de Faoite said there was "a real health risk"."No matter what your political perspective, this should cause concern," he Unionist Party (DUP) councillor Tracy Kelly also expressed concern but warned against "scaremongering"."It's a very, very big bonfire site and the bonfire is not where this asbestos is. It's on another part of the site," she said. Kelly, who recently became Belfast's new lord mayor, said she understood the material was from an old factory if the bonfire construction should be paused to remove the material, she said: "Of course if it's going to be removed then obviously the safety precautions need to be put in place."In a statement, a spokeswoman for Stormont's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the NIEA's "enquiries are ongoing"."The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) received a complaint concerning potentially hazardous waste at a site in the vicinity of Meridi Street, Belfast on the afternoon of Friday 16 May," she said."Staff from the Environmental Crime Unit within NIEA were in contact with Belfast City Council about the matter on Monday 19 May and enquiries are ongoing."
