Antrim & Newtownabbey Council spend almost £100,000 in run up to Twelfth

A bonfire management programme was delivered in Antrim and Newtownabbey this year at a cost of just under £100,000.

According to a report presented to councillors at a virtual meeting on Monday evening, this involved 19 sites in the borough.

Townparks in Antrim signed up to the programme for the first time this year.

A Covid cluster meant that a festival / family fun day event due to take place at Derrycoole Way in Rathcoole had to be cancelled less than 24 hours before it was due to take place and the entertainment booked had to be relocated to other sites within the borough, the report said.

Beacons were distributed to sites in Burnside and two locations in Parkhall in Antrim andTownparks with double beacons used in Doagh and Neillsbrook, Randalstown. Bonfires were held in nine of the participating sites in Antrim and Newtownabbey.

The report indicated that inspections of the sites took place in May with follow-up in June and July.

The total bill for the delivery of festivals/family fun days and the repair, filling and delivery of beacons was £96,768.

Planning for next year’s programme involving site representatives, councillors and statutory agencies will commence early next year.