Sinn Féin last night (Wednesday) claimed that a Lisburn leisure complex has been turned into a 'no go' area for Catholics.
Lisburn councillor Paul Butler said that many nationalists had been intimidated from using the council-owned Leisureplex complex after a July 12 bonfire was recently built in the centre's carpark.
"The reality is that Lisburn City Council is turning these facilities into a 'no go' areas for nationalists," he said.
Warning that the council had a duty to ensure that leisure facilities in the city were kept free from political and religious symbols, Mr Butler said: "What is even more appalling about all of this is that those gathering for this bonfire have blocked the back gates of the leisure complex with bonfire material so that no one can access the place through the back gate.
"The response from the council seems to be to turn a blind eye and let those who are using the leisure centre for their bonfire to get on with it.
"This makes a mockery out of the council's claim that Lisburn is a city for everyone."
A spokeswoman for Lisburn council said it was committed to ensuring a "safe, clean and healthy environment" for the city and was working closely with residents around the Leisureplex site to ensure no further material was dumped in the car park.
She said the council liaised with police, fire and roads agencies over the removal of bonfire and other materials from roads, and with other statutory authorities and private landowners regarding the removal of material from areas of land it owned.
