Cllr McDonough-Brown said: "Our primary concern is and always has been the safety of critical infrastructure and, crucially, of the people living in the immediate area.
“Everyone has a right to celebrate their cultural identity, and Alliance supports the display of culture when it’s done in a way which is legal, respectful and, most important of all, safe. That has and remains our main priority.
"It is a constantly evolving and very complex situation, and the political commentary around this over recent days has only further complicated the path to a safe resolution.
"The PSNI, working with other partners, have concluded that removal would be the higher risk option and unsafe. At this point, it’s important that everyone takes a step back and refocuses on the safety of everyone involved. Now is the time for cool heads and responsible political leadership so we can implement the strongest mitigations to ensure public safety and protect critical infrastructure.”
“Everyone has a right to celebrate their cultural identity, and Alliance supports the display of culture when it’s done in a way which is legal, respectful and, most important of all, safe. That has and remains our main priority.
"It is a constantly evolving and very complex situation, and the political commentary around this over recent days has only further complicated the path to a safe resolution.
"The PSNI, working with other partners, have concluded that removal would be the higher risk option and unsafe. At this point, it’s important that everyone takes a step back and refocuses on the safety of everyone involved. Now is the time for cool heads and responsible political leadership so we can implement the strongest mitigations to ensure public safety and protect critical infrastructure.”