Call for bonfire licences

Hundreds of bonfires are lit across Northern Ireland every 11 July

Licences for 11th night bonfires should be introduced by the Northern Ireland Office, the SDLP has said.

A party delegation, which met with NIO minister John Spellar on Friday night, also asked for the introduction of new legislation on flags and paramilitary graffiti.

The party's regional development spokesperson, Margaret Ritchie, said it was up to Mr Spellar to ensure people were not intimidated by sectarian emblems.

Hundreds of bonfires are lit across Northern Ireland every 11 July.

They are built by the members of the Protestant community ahead of the Twelfth of July commemoration of William of Orange's victory over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Ms Ritchie said: "The primary issue we raised was intimidatory flags on lamp posts for which he is responsible through the Roads Service, and sectarian or paramilitary emblems defacing public property.

"We asked him to take the initiative to bring together local and public authorities, government departments, the Housing Executive and the police to agree a common policy on the removal of flags and other intimidatory displays from public property, backed up by new laws.

"We asked him to look at proposals for licensing of bonfires, which are technically illegal under environmental legislation.

"More importantly, there are serious safety issues raised by bonfires on Roads Service property and the absolute scandal of tens of thousands of tyres being incinerated amongst dense housing, releasing more than 50 pollutants including dioxins."