Alliance Councillor Michael Long has said he is disappointed at the erection of party banners by Sinn Féin at several Belfast City Council parks across the city.

Councillor Long, Alliance’s Group Leader in City Hall, said Council parks were not appropriate places for party political material to be displayed and called for them to be removed. They have been erected at Cherryvale and the Waterworks.

“Council parks are shared spaces where no party should have any banners or posters displayed at any time, which Sinn Féin are fully aware of. They have previously been vocal on their opposition to the erection of banners by loyalist groups on main routes into the city last year, and rightly so. They cannot have it both ways when it comes to their own banners,” said the Lisnasharragh Councillor.

“Whilst I appreciate there is an attempt to help point people in the direction of help during this crisis, every party has appropriate methods to be able to do this, from their party website to social media channels, as well as other means, without having to resort to this.

“I am calling on Sinn Féin to remove these banners and if not, the Council needs to, to ensure our parks remain spaces welcoming to all. It is disappointing Sinn Féin decided to attempt to use this crisis to ignore that. Parties would be much better refocusing efforts on tackling this horrendous situation together.”