Consultation on Mid Ulster District Council’s proposed Bonfire Management Policy is set to begin in early June.
At a meeting of the Environment Committee on May 8, councillors agreed to invite feedback on a newly developed ‘policy for the management of bonfires on Council property’ which seeks to address the safety, environmental and social impacts of bonfires.
The wide-ranging policy sets out the Council’s proposed approach to bonfire management, which includes plans to work with local communities to support safe and sustainable celebration events which are family friendly, as well as an application process where bonfire organisers will seek permission to hold an event and agree to comply with a series of conditions.
Commitments around bonfire heights, materials used for burning, stewarding and safeguarding arrangements and event management plans are among the areas included as part of the proposed new process.
While any new policy will not be operational until July 2019, there are plans to engage with local communities in advance of 2018 bonfire events to pilot the programme, allow community representatives to become familiar with how the proposals may operate in practice and feedback their views.
The 13-week consultation will open on Monday June 4 and papers will be available to view from that date at: www.midulstercouncil.org/bonfireconsultation.
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