A housing association in Derry has put “contingency plans” in place to safeguard its residents and tenants during a planned anti-internment bonfire in the city.
Apex Housing manages Alexander House, in Bishop Street and The House in the Wells, in the Bogside.
Both are located in the vicinity of the bonfire, which is being built on the Meenan Square site, co-owned by Apex and The Executive Office (TEO).
The bonfire is due to be lit on Thursday, August 15.
Apex said that “detailed risk assessments have been carried out and contingency plans are in place to safeguard tenants and residents in the event of an emergency”.
The spokesperson added: “We fully recognise the distress and potential danger the planned bonfire at Meenan Square poses for local residents and visitors in the area.
“Working with the PSNI, we have engaged with local residents and statutory bodies to mitigate associated risks, and we remain committed to working with all relevant parties to find a resolution that ensures the safety and well being of the local community.”
The measures put in place by Apex Housing follow rioting which took place in Nailors Row, adjacent to Alexander House, on Saturday night.
Many residents “felt frightened and upset” during the disorder.
Petrol bombs, fireworks and stones were thrown at police lines by republican youths during several hours of rioting.
SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said he believed dissident republicans orchestrated the “recreational rioting” which left ten police officers injured.
One man was arrested and charged to court in September.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) said Meenan Square is not council-owned land and that the council does ‘”not authorise or regulate bonfires”.
It said the council engage with a wide range of statutory and community partners “to minimise the impact on local communities”.
The spokesperson said that at a committee meeting in June, councillors approved £15,000 of ratepayers cash towards “directed intervention activity” in the area during July and August.
“The funding is targeted at finding new and alternative positive activities that will benefit the local community,” it added.
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