Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The Orange Order’s grand secretary, Mervyn Gibson, has expressed his support for a controversial bonfire in south Belfast, dismissing concerns over asbestos on the site as “clearly political”. Gibson’s comments came ahead of the traditional Eleventh Night bonfires in Northern Ireland that lead up to the 12th of July commemorations. Worries had been raised about potential asbestos at the location and fears over the impact on the power supply to nearby hospitals due to the bonfire’s proximity to an electricity substation.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) removed approximately 20kg of asbestos from the site between Donegall Road and the Westlink. Additional suspected asbestos was discovered in five areas surrounding the bonfire site in south Belfast. Despite these findings, Gibson encouraged people to attend the bonfire and suggested that the issue was more political than environmental. He questioned why the asbestos concerns were only being raised now when bonfire builders had been on the site since January.
Belfast City Council backed the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) decision not to assist in removing the bonfire, citing lingering concerns over asbestos. The council emphasized the importance of addressing the asbestos issue and vowed to continue pressing the NIEA for action. Mitigating measures, including covering the asbestos material and adding fire-retardant material and fencing, were implemented to reduce health risks before the bonfire. The NIEA indicated that the landowner would handle the complete removal of asbestos from the site in the upcoming week.
DUP councillor Sarah Bunting raised questions regarding the discovery of more suspected asbestos at the site, urging further assessment by the NIEA before the bonfire’s lighting. As bonfire builders voluntary removed tiers of pallets from the top of the bonfire, the PSNI assured that the risks associated with the removal had been thoroughly evaluated. Various political figures, including Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Environment Minister Andrew Muir, urged caution and common sense in light of the bonfire controversy
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.