Glasgow bonfire torn down by council and police hours before 'well-loved' community event

A bonfire in Milton is being dismantled by council workers — hours before a ‘well loved’ community event.

According to local residents, Glasgow City Council workers, accompanied by police, began taking the bonfire apart on Tuesday morning. The bonfire on Westray Street and Bernaray Street, in the north of the city, has been “well-attended and enjoyed” for five years according to locals.

Alex O’Kane, 59, lives nearby the bonfire and has attended in previous years. Mr O’Kane said he has contacted local police and the council in an attempt to find a compromise.

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He said: “Milton doesn’t have much, so we all look forward to community events like this. I don’t understand why they’re taking it down.

“There’s never been any problems, it’s on an open bit of land, and local people love it. It’d be really sad to see that go.”

Glasgow City Council told Glasgow Live "dangerous bonfires" will be dismantled when they "pose a risk to public safety", as part of a joint operation with Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue.

Displays at Glasgow Green — organised by Glasgow Life, the council’s culture and leisure arm until the covid pandemic — were again not organised this year, with costs estimated to run to £350,000 and deemed too high.

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In September, Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life , suggested money could be better used elsewhere rather than on “just five minutes of fireworks for £350,000”.

Mr O’Kane added: “The council should be putting on events like this, but they’ve cut back. Local people are using their own initiative, and rightly so.

“Local people have put a lot of time and effort into this, and I would hate to see it pulled down.”

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said today: “As part of a joint protocol between the council, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue, dangerous bonfires will be dismantled when they pose a risk to public safety.”

Police Scotland issued an identical statement to Glasgow Live.

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