Outrage over town’s festival funding

The stance by the Council has outraged the Stoneyford Jubilee Committee, who in turn have taken the decision to turn down the funding altogether.

“Following an emergency meeting of Stoneyford Jubilee Committee, it has been decided that funding of £3,500 for a July 10/11 festival, which had been granted by Lisburn City Council Community Festivals fund has had to be declined,” said a spokesperson for the Committee. “This has unfortunately led the committee to cancel the children’s fun day, beacon and fireworks which had been organised for July 11.”

The Chairman of the Committee said it was “extremely regrettable that the fantastic work of the committee over the past six years in improving community relations in the village, had been totally disregarded by the council and that Protestant/Loyalist core values were not for sale at any price.”

He stated: “The Leisure Services Committee had apparently decided that they were going to withhold payment until other events in the village had taken place, namely the annual band parade and another unnamed event.”

He continued. “It was pointed out that these events had absolutely nothing to do with Stoneyford Jubilee Committee.”

He continued: “The Committee believe that Lisburn city Council have been influenced by the on-going persecution and witch hunt by the PSNI and Sinn Fein/IRA on the Protestant/Loyalist community in Stoneyford. Many years ago the Jubilee Committee had successfully persuaded the Stoneyford community that the traditional bonfire should be replaced with an environmentally friendly beacon and fireworks display.

“The committee believe it is inconceivable that Lisburn City Council have now turned their backs on this forward thinking initiative by imposing conditions beyond the Committee’s control. It is now expected that Protestants/Loyalists in the area will be reverting to the traditional 11th night bonfire this year,” he concluded.

A spokesperson for Lisburn City Council explained: “An award of £3,500 was granted to the Stoneyford Jubilee Committee under Lisburn City Council’s Community Festival Fund.

“Under this programme all schemes must demonstrate their commitment to promoting social cohesion, social inclusion and equality of opportunity and good relations. It is not felt that this objective can be met at the current time.

“The Council will continue to monitor the situation regarding the funding application.”