Bonfire ban ‘must be enforced’

THE Environment Minister is to be asked to ensure that legislation banning bonfires is enforced in Cork.

The move could spell the end to the city’s tradition of celebrating bonfire night, which takes place on Saturday.

Green Party city councillor Chris O’Leary last night accused the city council of double standards and of effectively “turning a blind eye” to the situation.

“On the one hand, we are sending out enforcement letters to individuals warning them about the practice of backyard burning. Others are being taken to court for similar breaches,” he said.

“But on the other hand, we are turning a blind eye every year to bonfire night events, which are breaching national and EU legislation on waste management and air pollution.”

Mr O’Leary said the time has come to clamp down on the practice. He plans to raise the issue with Environment Minister John Gormley within days.

“For many people, bonfire night is a night of terror,” Mr O’Leary said.

City manager Joe Gavin said the council was willing to extend a pilot project, started in Leesdale in Bishopstown in 2005 and repeated last year, which replaced a bonfire with a community sports night.

“However, in other estates there generally is no consensus amongst residents and what might be appropriate in the context of past traditions,” he said.

The council does not licence bonfires and expends “considerable energy and resources” in the removal of material, he added.

The city spent almost €113,000 cleaning up after last year’s bonfire events.