'˜No funding' if tyres on bonfire

The update was provided to the local government authority as part of a report on the recently established Cultural Celebrations Working Group.

The group was initially set up in October to engage with identified bonfire builders within communities.

It proposed a number of actions, including measures to promote the legal disposal of tyres throughout the borough.

“Environmental Health Officers will work with NIEA staff to visit all tyre retail outlets and suppliers in Ballymena and Larne to ensure the duty of care legislative requirements are being complied with. This approach took place in Carrickfergus last year and worked well,” the report read.

A proposal that the PCSP adopt an information leaflet template in relation to the legal duties around tyres and tyre disposal for circulation to local businesses was also made. “The internal funding group [will] reconsider how appropriate funding can be made available to individuals and look at a wider scale of funding depending on the range and scale of activities planned. No funding is to be made available where tyres are incorporated into a bonfire.

“A questionnaire will be developed to give all councillors, MLAs and MPs the opportunity to contribute their views on the issue of cultural celebrations.

“A separate questionnaire would give community associations an opportunity to contribute their views on the issue of cultural celebrations within their community and to identify problem sites, issues of concerns and proposed solutions.”

Meanwhile, further meetings will be arranged with bonfire organisers to ensure continued meaningful engagement and to provide feedback to the actions being proposed.

A range of cultural education programmes will be arranged, supported by funding from OFMDFM, to look at the history of bonfires and to provide training on running safe events.

The establishment of a wider statutory agency forum consisting of local PSNI, NIFRS,

HIHE, Transport NI and NIEA was suggestred to progress these matters “in a joined up manner.”