Sinn F\u00e9in, Alliance, SDLP and Green Party representatives backed the plan, while the DUP did not.<\/p>\n
City Hall sources told this newspaper on Thursday that the current assessment is that bonfire will go ahead on Friday night. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s understood that bonfire builders have voluntarily removed tiers of pallets from the top of the pyre as an “olive branch” to critics.<\/p>\n
Police had previously declared a major incident over the removal of the bonfire, but said the the decision not to assist had been taken following \u201ccomprehensive engagement\u201d with all stakeholders.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing comprehensive engagement with all relevant stakeholders, an evidence based assessment, and taking into consideration all of the risks associated with the removal, we have determined that police should not assist the proposed actions of Belfast City Council,\u201d said a spokesperson.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter receiving a formal request for assistance from Belfast City Council the Police Service of Northern Ireland chaired a multi-agency Tactical Coordination Group meeting on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmongst those present were the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland Electricity, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Belfast City Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring this multi-agency meeting all partners considered the environmental risks associated with the asbestos on the site, the risks related to the electricity sub-station as well as the risks to public safety on a site occupied by members of the public, including children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe consensus of the meeting was that the risk of the bonfire proceeding as planned was lower and more manageable than the intervention of contractors and the proposed methodology of dismantling the bonfire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Police Service will continue to work with partners and communities to manage the remaining risks surrounding this bonfire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Belfast City Council has acknowledged the police response.<\/p>\n
“Party group leaders have also been made aware of the PSNI\u2019s position,\u201d added a spokesperson.<\/p>\n
“The council remains concerned about the presence of asbestos on the site and has continued to raise these concerns with NIEA.<\/p>\n
“We have asked NIEA for information on their next steps, and we are seeking assurances in relation to the protection of public health.<\/p>\n
“The council will also continue to work with NIEA, as the lead agency, and the landowner in relation to this site.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"General](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752184033_559_c20b72a1-2321-443b-afb6-2809f87c0b3b.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
General views of a bonfire at the side of the Westlink in Belfast close Donegall Road in south Belfast on July 8th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott)<\/p>\n
Bonfire built beside south Belfast substation <\/p>\n
In a statement on social media, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: \u201cI am working with the range of local agencies and with our local DUP reps on the ground in relation to expressed concerns on the south Belfast bonfire near Broadway.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe aim is a community celebration that can take place with absolutely minimised risks and in a safe way. I pay tribute to all those working on the ground to achieve this, and for their hard work thus far. I am continuing to support also.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose using this issue as a political football should step back and allow the space for discussions and work to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The towering structure sparked concerns that it could put the power supply to the City Hospital and the Royal Victoria Hospital at risk due to its proximity to an electricity substation.<\/p>\n
In addition, hazardous asbestos material on the site near the Westlink is a potential risk to human health.<\/p>\n
Within hours of the Council\u2019s vote, police declared a major incident over the bonfire and crowds gathered at the site, with entrances to the site being blocked.<\/p>\n
A joint statement issued on behalf of paramilitaries in south Belfast also warned of the possibility of \u201cserious and sustained disorder\u201d.<\/p>\n
“PSNI have been advised of the risk of widespread disorder, with loyalists in other areas across NI staging interface riots to stretch the PSNI,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
“The police have been told there is a very real prospect of serious and sustained disorder should there be any effort to remove the bonfire.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a legal challenge taken by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson over the Council\u2019s suspension of the call-in mechanism following the bonfire vote was adjourned by the High Court until September.<\/p>\n
The case was one of two before the judge, with the other challenging the siting of the south Belfast pyre.<\/p>\n
In Mr Bryson’s case, Mr Justice O\u2019Hara also queried why DUP councillors had not taken the action.<\/p>\n
Both cases were adjourned following news of the police decision not to support the removal of the bonfire.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752184033_118_ec8ca234-eb48-4f1c-ba96-9f130e63b1cb.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The bonfire site in the Village area. Credit: Jonathan Porter\/PressEye<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in MLA Pat Sheehan earlier demanded leadership from unionists to ensure \u201cthe hazardous bonfire\u201d does not go ahead and also warned that the PSNI must take action.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe silence from political unionism is deafening,\u201d the west Belfast representative said. <\/p>\n
“They must step up and make it clear they do not support the burning of materials that threaten hospital power supplies and risk releasing asbestos into the air.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It is understood Belfast City Council\u2019s bonfire panel was informed that the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) had identified…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":254530,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[6571,5813,13,1300,12,1610,17793,94225,14],"class_list":{"0":"post-254529","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-andrew-madden","9":"tag-belfast-city-council","10":"tag-headlines","11":"tag-liam-tunney","12":"tag-news","13":"tag-police-service-of-northern-ireland","14":"tag-south-belfast-news","15":"tag-the-twelfth","16":"tag-top-stories"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114831140060095883","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254529"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254529\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=254529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}