DUP quits council bonfire group over community concerns

The Democratic Unionist Party says it has withdrawn councillors from a bonfire working group because unionists in Londonderry are feeling increasingly disenfranchised.

It took the decision after listening to constituents' concerns, the party said.

Both the DUP and Ulster Unionist Party have said they will not be nominating to the council group this year.

It is used to discuss bonfire regulation and other cross-community issues.

DUP council leader Hilary McClintock said the city's Protestant Unionist Loyalist (PUL) community was "disenfranchised with the whole process within council".

She said concerns included policing, the implementation of the NI Protocol and an earlier decision by Derry City and Strabane District Council not to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland.

"That is a major one because many people on the ground feel the council is not giving due consideration to the feelings of the PUL community during this centenary year," she said.

Mrs McClintock said many people on the ground felt the working group was "tokenistic".

"What we do find is bonfire issues, particularly in the PUL community, are resolved locally," she said.

"Most of the issues regarding bonfires seem to be on the cityside at the present time".

DUP representatives will continue to liaise with bonfire organisers, she added.

"We listen to the people who vote for us and they say to us very strongly they don't believe the bonfire group in council is fulfilling any need for them," she said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the SDLP's Brian Tierney called on the unionist parties to reconsider their position.

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, Mr Tierney, who sits on the working group, said he was "genuinely shocked" when both party representatives refused to nominate.

The SDLP councillor and former mayor said there was a "disconnect within unionist communities" and he believed strong engagement was the only way forward to address outstanding issues, such as bonfires.

"Walking away from the process is not the way to deal with it, and that is why I asked council officers to call a meeting of the previous bonfire working group," he said.

"We need to find out what the problem is and why the unionist councillors decided they do not want to take part in it," he said.

He called on unionist representatives at council level and community workers to "reengage with the process" and meet again around the table.

Sinn Féin has also called on both unionist parties to reconsider their withdrawal.

"If they are serious about addressing the issues of the bonfires, they should reconsider this decision, get back around the table and work constructively with other parties," councillor Sandra Duffy said.

BBC News NI has also approached the Ulster Unionist Party and Derry City and Strabane District Council for comment.