Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Elf and safety’s a turn-off
No Xmas light switch-on event for Belfast
COUNCILLORS have said “bahhumbug” after officials blamed health and safety for scrapping a Christmas lights switch-on.
Elected reps grilled managers at Belfast City Council over plans to again go without a festive tree countdown and lights turn-on at City Hall.
At a meeting of the council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee this week councillors queried the dismissal of the countdown and switch-on, which was last performed in front of City Hall in 2018.
A council officer told the committee: “The feedback we received to that activity was that it raised significant health and safety concerns.
“This was provided by colleagues from our Health and Safety Unit, about how we manage that space, about access and egress, how we control the crowd and in particular when they disperse on the roadway.”
DUP councillor Tracy Kelly said: “If it is to do with health and safety concerns, I would like to know if anybody has been hurt, or if there was a crush. What is the concern, because for many years this city has been doing it and I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anybody being hurt.”
SDLP councillor Carl Whyte added: “I hope we can look at it again next year.
“It’s not like it is Times Square on New Year’s Eve – if they can do it, why can’t we? If you organise a protest in front of the City Hall, the police stop traffic.
“I’m sure there are legitimate reasons here but it is all a bit bah humbug.”
DUP councillor John Hussey said the decision “basically translates that it is more hassle to organise than it’s really worth. That’s what it actually means”.