Council warns of legal action over 'asbestos' at bonfire site

Belfast City Council is considering legal action against the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) over concerns about suspected asbestos at a bonfire site.

It follows complaints over materials on derelict land beside Meridi Street near the Westlink road in the south of the city.

The NIEA said it was informed of "potentially hazardous waste" and enquiries were continuing.

The council said it "continues to engage" with NIEA and the landowner to ensure the materials are removed "as soon as possible".

It said councillors agreed "this may include pursuing legal action against the NIEA and/or the landowner, if the necessary steps are not taken".

An "abatement notice" has also been served requiring the landowner to secure and contain the materials, the council added.

Bonfires are lit annually in unionist communities across Northern Ireland to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the region's parading season.

Councillors discussed the Meridi Street site behind closed doors at a committee meeting on Friday.

The committee agreed to "delegate authority to officers to undertake legal action and the necessary steps to secure the site", according to the minutes.

Officials believe the cost of removing the material could be a six-figure sum, sources have told BBC News NI.

It is believed legal action could involve seeking a court injunction.

In a statement, the council said it previously took enforcement action and secured the site due to asbestos in 2011.

"When this work was completed, officers were satisfied that the site did not pose any risk to people living or working in the area, but were clear that we could not state there was no contamination left at the site," it said.

"Council became aware of a further issue at this site last month and has been engaging with the landowner to ensure that suspected asbestos containing materials were adequately secured.

"The current landowner has put temporary measures in place to fence off the materials."

Alliance Party assembly member Paula Bradshaw described the "asbestos pile" as "deeply worrying".

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme last month, she expressed concern at the "potential" of young people using the material on the bonfire.

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillor Séamas de Faoite said there was "a real health risk".

"No matter what your political perspective, this should cause concern," he added.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) councillor Tracy Kelly, who is the new lord mayor of Belfast, also expressed concern but warned against "scaremongering".

"It's a very, very big bonfire site and the bonfire is not where this asbestos is. It's on another part of the site," she said.

Kelly said she understood the material was from an old factory roof.

Asked if the bonfire construction should be paused to remove the material, she said: "Of course if it's going to be removed then obviously the safety precautions need to be put in place."

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Stormont's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the NIEA's "enquiries are ongoing".

"The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) received a complaint concerning potentially hazardous waste at a site in the vicinity of Meridi Street, Belfast on the afternoon of Friday 16 May," she said.

"Staff from the Environmental Crime Unit within NIEA were in contact with Belfast City Council about the matter on Monday 19 May and enquiries are ongoing."