Red Tape May Put Hold On Bonfire Funding Schemes

Now the scheme has been thrown into jeopardy as funding for this Peace initiative may be blocked by bureaucratic red tape. [caption id="attachment_30751" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Concerned about the block in funding to the local bonfires are Community Safety Partnership Chairman Cllr Mickey Coogan, Carol baker, Hillcrest Community Association, Trai Lavery, Cllr Billy Walker, Bonfire Liaison Committee Chairman,Anne Marie Rice, Hillcrest CA, Daryll Madine, Kilmore Rec FC, and Cllr Terry Andrews."][/caption] Deeply concerned are the Chairpersons of the Community Safety Partnership and its Bonfire Liaison Committee Cllrs Mickey Coogan and William Walker who have issued a joint statement condemning the failure of the PEACE111 cluster group to meet and score funding applications for Bonfire diversion schemes across the District. Councillor Coogan said, “ This application which includes a number of other initiatives was submitted on May 5^th and went before an assessment panel in June. The application was resubmitted in August and was due to go before a panel in September but to date it has not been assessed. The implications are that four bonfire diversion schemes planned in Ardglass, Ballynahinch, Crossgar and Killough will all have to be put on hold.” The Community Safety Partnership have funded similar schemes over the past three years and they have proved to be a huge success. Community groups have used Bonfire Beacons in place of traditional bonfires and these are much safer and environmentally friendly. They have also organised Halloween parties that provide safe alternatives for families and young people to enjoy on the night. Councillor Billy Walker added, “Four towns in our District have been let down by the PEACE III Partnership. Local community groups who volunteer their time have been organising these events and if  the Partnership don’t  get their act together this week, we could end up with communities reverting back to the old style bonfires. There were many other groups across the District who were considering using the beacons at Halloween and in the July celebrations but this could undo all of the progress we’ve made. “I would appeal to those elected members of the Partnership to intervene and take control of the situation as there is still an opportunity, no matter how small, to make these events happen.”]]>