It may seem strange to be reporting on developments relating to the unwelcome phenomenon of loyalist fire while we are still in the grip of winter, although it may not be as strange as the fact that material is already being collected in north Belfast for the July 11 crematorium.
Dozens of pallets are stacked at a site near the Mount Collier Youth Club, adjacent to Alexandra Park in the Limestone Road area.
Location is important. It is believed to be an alternative site for the Eleventh Night bonfire that is lit annually on nearby Adam Street, close to the interface of the loyalist Tigers Bay area with the Nationalist New Lodge.
This has become increasingly controversial in recent years, leading to outbreaks of sectarian violence, including the throwing of petrol bombs and other missiles.
It is difficult to reconcile this type of reprehensible activity with the argument often made by loyalists that the tradition of lighting fires is a culture worthy of respect.
Calls to move the fire elsewhere, and thus help calm the situation, have fallen on deaf ears in previous years.
But with the platforms now assembled at a new site and signs that construction work could soon be underway in the Adam Street area – there are plans for new homes – it looks like July 2024 could finally see the fire burn off the façade.
It is understood that while the UVF and UDA in the area support change, other loyalists do not want to stir the fire.
Bonfires can be a legitimate form of cultural expression; However, this cannot come at the cost of serious damage to public property and the environment or fueling hostility
Many will consider it a shame that these organizations continue to exercise influence, but regardless of the inner workings of loyalists and paramilitaries in the region, it is clear that anything that helps ease tensions and provocations should be welcomed, at least with caution.
However, that could not be the end of the matter. There is an urgent need for proper legal regulation and enforcement regarding fire. This includes where they are placed, what they are built for and their size.
It must be recognized that setting fires can be a legitimate form of cultural expression; However, this cannot come at the cost of serious damage to public property and the environment or fueling hostility.
The Parade Committee was effective in keeping down the heat of the parade disputes that flared up every summer; Bonfire culture does not have to be toxic, and having a similar body to oversee all aspects of bonfire is worth considering.
