More than 1,000 tyres were removed from a bonfire site at Millbrook outside Larne, a report to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee said.
The update on the Bonfires and Cultural Celebrations Programme, which was presented to the committee last week, said tyres were also removed from a site at Galgorm outside Ballymena.
It stated: “In general, the 2024 bonfire season was characterised by strong working relationships between all partners.” It noted the “surrendering and appropriate disposal of tyres from a number of bonfire sites”.
Read more
Commenting on the environmental impact, the report also says: “In recent years, council have had considerable success in reducing the number of tyres on bonfires and through the funding and expansion of the beacon programme, have displayed ongoing commitment to a more environmentally-friendly approach.”
Six beacons were lit in Ballymena, three in the Larne area and one in Whitehead.
The total cost of the beacon programme in the borough this year was £53k which is 75 per cent funded through the Good Relations programme by The Executive Office. The remainder is funded by the council.
Supplied by Groundwork, beacons are steel structures, five metres in height and pre-filled with willow wood and stand on a bed of sand to protect surfaces.
Councillors have been advised discussions have commenced with the Housing Executive with respect to contributing to the cost of the beacon programme saying that a number of beacons are located on Housing Executive sites.
The report continues: “Beacon sites are safe and attract no complaints. There are no site issues in the run-up to beacons being lit, no period of collection on-site or difficulties with fly-tipping.”
Watch: Larne bonfire at Craigyhill stands at over 150ft
Councillors were advised of 25 bonfires in Mid and East Antrim, 12 on council-owned land, six on Housing Executive land and seven on private ground. Ten were in Ballymena, eight in Larne and seven in Carrickfergus.
Committee members were told the council’s clean-up costs of bonfire sites across the borough amounted to £33,335. Last year’s cost was £36,873.
The Housing Executive’s clean-up cost was £18,106 in Carrickfergus. None was reported in Larne or Ballymena. The cost of “heat protection” for Housing Executive homes in Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena was £33,000.
In March, it was agreed the council has never consented to unauthorised activity on its land and confirmed it does not regulate or give permission for any unauthorised activity on council-owned land or council property.
It was acknowledged that locally, bonfires are “an important part of identity, tradition and cultural expression”.
“In the event, communities seek to proceed with a bonfire on council-owned land, council to mitigate risk will engage with local communities, seeking to manage and reduce risk through initiatives such as the cultural celebrations grants scheme and the beacon programme, thereby promoting and encouraging safer cultural celebrations wherever possible.”
The report noted 30 complaints regarding bonfire sites in Mid and East Antrim. Of these, 13 related to Craigyhill; Galgorm, five; Broughshane, two; Broughshane Whinsmoor, two; Cullybackey, two; Millbrook, two; Kellswater Bridge, one; Prince Andrew Way, Carrickfergus, one and Boyne Square, Larne, one.
Most related to tyres and fly-tipping. Five at Craigyhill related to noise. Others included structure and a “base jumper”. However, it was stated that the “majority of sites attracted zero complaints this year”.
A cultural celebrations working group has a membership of council staff, elected members and partner organisations, DfI, DAERA, PSNI, NI Fire and Rescue Service, Housing Executive and NIE. It meets monthly from January until September.
Almost £11,500 was distributed through the cultural celebration grant scheme in the run-up to the Twelfth which received 19 applications. Eighteen were successful.