Bonfire thugs have sprayed sinister graffiti on a community facility they have forced to close.
The warning on the North Belfast Family Centre states: “Our wood goes this centre goes.”
The contentious bonfire has been built in an area known locally as the Barracks , adjacent to the facility.
The pyre is due to be lit tonight to mark the anniversary of the introduction of internment on July 9, 1971.
It was confirmed last night the centre will be closed today and could remain shut tomorrow.
SDLP councillor Paul McCusker said: “I’ve seen families and children arriving at the building this week and they’ve looked intimidated. That should not be the case.”
Tensions have mounted in the area over a number of weeks, with a growing impact on the centre as crowds have congregated at the bonfire.
Vandalism and litter has also impacted the facility.
Cllr McCusker added: “This is an intimidating environment and innocent children should not be caught in the middle of it.”
Locals report groups of up to 30 people gathering at the site from 9am and staying throughout the day playing music, working on the bonfire and even using a drill to secure piles of wood.
One man, who works nearby and did not want to be identified, said: “They’re there morning and night sitting around in their hi-vis vests.
“There are kids as young as 10 and right the way up to their 20s. You’ll have times when there are 60 standing at it and there could be hundreds when the bonfire goes up. No one wants it. People in the area are livid.”
Cllr McCusker told the BBC’s Nolan Show: “There are serious concerns around the level of threat here.
“Serious concerns in terms of the level of criminality and when that happens no one can deal with that, only the police.”
Sinn Fein’s Caral Ni Chuilin called for the removal of the bonfire, which she said is not wanted in the area.
The MLA added: “All the criminal behaviour needs dealt with.”
Complaints of anti-social activity have mounted over recent weeks with young people pictured powering a games console from a lamppost while standing guard at the site. The PSNI have charged three 14-year-old boys in relation to the recent disorder and officers continue to review CCTV footage from the area.
A Belfast Trust spokesperson said: “The family centre in New Lodge exists to serve all members of the community and we do not tolerate threats of this nature on any of our sites.
“The safety and comfort of our service-users is paramount and all arrangements put in place to keep visitors safe are regularly reviewed.
“It is normal practice each year to close this centre on August 8. As such, all visits are appropriately scheduled around this time to ensure no-one misses an appointment.
“Belfast Trust has been in contact with the PSNI in relation to a bonfire near the centre.”
The Department for Infrastructure owns the land on which the bonfire has been built. A spokesperson added: “The use of a public road in New Lodge for the construction of a bonfire and the threatening graffiti are both completely unacceptable.
“The department will continue to work with its statutory partners to identify the best way of supporting the local community and ensuring the safety of road users, staff and contractors.”
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “As the bonfire in the New Lodge area is not on our land, the removal of materials is not a matter for council.
“In relation to removal of contentious graffiti, we will endeavour to remove this as soon as practicably possible.”
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