New scheme aims to clean up Twelfth bonfires

In a bid to prevent mess associated with the massive annual 'Eleventh Night' blazes as well as Hallowe'en fires the Council is looking at getting organisers to use large cages to help house the burning material.

It is believed Ballymoney will be one of the first areas to use such a scheme and the development follows a groundbreaking scheme in 2007 when money left over in the bonfire safety programme was used to plant trees to help offset bonfire carbon emissions.

Under the latest proposals by the Safer Bonfire Group, organisations will have the use of cages at six sites throughout the borough in July to house their bonfires and therefore curtail the spread and damage which can be caused by the flames and heat.

Believed to be one of the first Council areas to install the initiative, it was agreed at last night's (Monday's) full Council meeting to award SJC Hutchinson Engineering Ltd the contract to supply the reusable cage components.

The scheme was agreed at a recent Health and Environmental Services meeting and a Council report explained: 'Having reviewed last year's activities and the escalating clean up costs of the bonfire sites in July and October it is proposed that we pilot the use of cages at six sites throughout the Borough in July 2010.

'A grant has been secured to fund this pilot project from the Community Relations Council through Good Relations.

'Work has been undertaken to obtain the four necessary quotes for the manufacture of the cage components. These are as follows: SJS Hutchinson Engineering Ltd (96.55 per unit), JMF Metal Fabrications Ltd (99 per unit), McKendry Fabrications Ltd (225 per unit) and R Beveridge Engineering Ltd (180 per unit).

'It is recommended that SJC Hutchinson Engineering Ltd be awarded the contract to supply the cage components to be used at six sites throughout the Borough in July 2010.'

Cllr John Finlay (DUP), Chair of the Safer Bonfire Group,informed members that the cages are aimed at curtailing the spread of bonfire material at each site. He said the cages would generally be 6m by 6m and would be reusable. Presently the Group is seeking to work and co-operate with local community groups regarding the initiative.

He thanked Council Officers for all their work to date concerning this matter. In response to Alderman James Simpson (Ulster Unionist), Cllr Finlay advised that the Safer Bonfire Group had considered the use of beacons but they proved to be too expensive.

It was proposed by Cllr Ian Stevenson (DUP) and seconded by Cllr Audrey Patterson (Traditional Unionist Voice) to back the cages plan.