Concerns have been raised that a firework display planned for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Lurgan will harm wildlife living in the park.
Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council will be holding a firework display in Lurgan Park on Saturday, June 4, following a showing of the concert at Buckingham Palace.
The fireworks are due to be launched at 10.30pm from a platform on the park’s lake, which local residents say is full of wildlife, including nesting swans and recently hatched cygnets.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Alison Lennon said the plans had caused concern due to the impact that the fireworks could have on the local wildlife population and felt that an investigation needs to take place regarding the plans.
She also said that the display would breach the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act 2011, which prohibits the obstruction of a wildbird using their nest or damaging it.
Alison said: “The council is set to hold a Platinum Jubilee Celebration in Lurgan Park this Saturday that will end with a firework display, launched from a platform in the centre of the lake.
(Image: CP McMahon Photography)
“This has caused a lot of concern among local residents, particularly those who use the park often, as it is a hub for wildlife in the area who will be heavily impacted by this firework display.
“There are three swan nests with eggs in them along with recently hatched cygnets who could be extremely frightened or injured by the display, not to mention the host of other wild birds that have built nests in the park, foxes, squirrels and fish that are in the lake.
“It seems like no consideration has been given to the local wildlife and I cannot understand how this decision has been made, as it is a breach of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act 2011 to obstruct or harm wild birds trying to use their nests.
“There have been displays in the park before, but never right in the middle of the lake full of wildlife. We fear that this will have a truly devastating impact if it goes ahead.
“The council has said that the birds are more resilient to disturbances because they are in a public area, but there is a huge difference in someone walking past a nesting swan and a firework display.”
The USPCA has said it is “deeply concerned” regarding the plans for the firework display this weekend and have appealed to the council to reconsider its plans.
Brendan Mullan, USPCA Chief Executive, said: “The USPCA is deeply concerned by the Armagh, Banbridge, and Craigavon Council’s decision to hold a firework display at its event taking place in Lurgan Park this coming weekend. The event involves fireworks being set off from a floating platform on the lake and the surrounding areas.
“Several members of the public have been in touch with the USPCA regarding this issue and join us in our concerns around the detrimental impact this poses to wildlife in the area, particularly at this time of year with the safety and wellbeing of nesting birds.
“Birds and their young are protected under law as outlined in legislation including the Wildlife NI Order 1985 – ‘it is an offence to disturb any wild bird…while it is building a nest or is in, on, or near a nest containing eggs or young.’ The park is a natural habitat for wildlife and this event will negatively impact any wildlife in close proximity.
“It is our understanding that a license is required from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to hold such an event, given that it is a wild bird habitat – we would strongly urge that such a license is withheld. We also appeal to the Council to reconsider its plans for this firework display.”
A spokesperson for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said: “The Council notes the concerns, however it has taken into consideration all the issues raised. NIEA has been informed with regard to the proposed firework display, and the Council commissioned two separate independent ecologists to appraise the potential impacts from the proposed firework display at Lurgan Park.
“The result of the appraisals were, taking into consideration that the birds are nesting in an area already well-used by the public, which would suggest they are more resilient to disturbance; the mitigations proposed by the Council and the short duration of the display, there should be no negative impact or significant disturbance caused to the local bird population in Lurgan Park.
“The Council has fulfilled its requirements in making an application for a Fireworks display Licence from the Department of Justice.”
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