Unionist parties withdraw their support from group set up to try and tackle the controversial subject of bonfires in Derry

Unionist parties in Derry have withdrawn their support from a group looking at the future of bonfires in the city.

It followed a heated council meeting this afternoon in the Guildhall.

During the meeting, councillors were asked to approve an ‘action plan’ put forward by a cross-party working group which was set up earlier this year by Derry City and Strabane District Council to look at the issue of bonfires on council-owned land.

The plan outlined that there were five locations in Derry where bonfires had been lit on council-owned land.

There were a range of recommendations put forward in the new plan.

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney said it was a ‘live document’ which would be reviewed on a quarterly basis.

The plan was also supported by Sinn Fein.

However, unionist councillors said they had some concerns with the plan at the meeting today of the council’s Health and Community Committee.

DUP Alderman Drew Thompson said the proposal that bonfire material be removed from locations where agreement had not been reached could ‘antagonise’ local communities.

When the recommendation to implement the action plan was put to a vote, it was supported by nationalist councillors and opposed by unionists.

After the vote was taken, Ulster Unionist councillor Derek Hussey and DUP representative Graham Warke said that both their parties were withdrawing from the cross-party working group as a result.

However, shortly after the meeting ended, a statement was released by the council in which the DUP Mayor Hilary McClintock welcomed the committee’s decision to support ‘the adoption of the proposed policy’.

“I think this sends a strong message that Council is committed to the development of an effective resolution to this issue, and although within some communities bonfires are part of their cultural identity public safety and protection of the environment are also important,” she said.

“This inclusive and collaborative approach will promote communication between the many statutory agencies and community representatives who deal with the issue on the ground, and where local residents and businesses do not want bonfires in their neighbourhoods, we will seek to find alternatives to bonfires which will enhance community relations and benefit local people.

“I look forward to seeing the plans progress now to the next stage.”