Fury has erupted after a beloved Bonfire Night was cancelled for a second year in a row amid a “health and safety” push.
Organisers behind Truro’s annual bonfire night and fireworks display have confirmed it will not go ahead following extensive talks over safety plans.
Truro City Council said that due to an estimated 5,000 residents planning to attend the event, it is put into the “enhanced tier” under Martyn’s Law legislation.
Passed last year, Martyn’s Law forces certain venues and events to bolster security, conduct risk assessments, and prepare emergency plans to shield people from possible terror attacks.
Despite not yet coming into effect, the Cornish authority said local councils have been urged to act as if it is already in place.
Truro Council identified Tremorvah Playing Field as a possible venue for the event, with talks taking place on crowd management, road closures and ticket entry.
The discussions also focused on providing effective communication and being able to provide adequate support if an emergency took place.
However, the authority concluded the event could not safely go ahead within its budget while making it affordable for Cornish residents.
Organisers behind Truro’s annual bonfire night and fireworks display have confirmed it will not go ahead following extensive talks (file photo)
|
GETTY
The council also could not guarantee that people living near Tremorvah Playing Field would not be adversely affected by the event.
The authority acknowledged that the cancellation will come as a disappointment to local residents, insisting it will continue to look at ways to hold a safe and cost-effective event in future.
Truro City Council town clerk, David Rodda, said, “Truro City Council can only stage events where it is satisfied that it can do so safely and within available budgets.
“Despite our best efforts, it was not possible to do that this year whilst keeping the entry price at an affordable level and whilst ensuring that we meet the necessary requirements of an “enhanced tier” event under Martyn’s Law.”
COUNCIL CHAOS – READ THE LATEST:
Truro City Council said they had estimated around 5,000 residents would be attending the event
|
He added: “I know this will be a disappointment for many residents.”
Following the council’s decision, Cornish residents quickly took to social media to voice their fury.
“So that’s that finished indefinitely now I’d guess .. for a city it offers very little,” one raged.
Another fumed: “Truro, the failures are all around us, no surprise, no thought of having a safe aerial display we can all see in the sky with no attendees at risk and controllable expense?
“Too much to hope for from the council of the glums.”
The authority could not guarantee that people living near Tremorvah Playing Field would not be adversely affected by the event
|
A third branded the decision “shocking”, while another described the cancellation as “pathetic”.
Truro Council’s announcement comes just weeks after nearby Falmouth permanently cancelled its annual event due to revised health and safety regulations, bringing an end to a tradition spanning nearly four decades.
The event, organised by Falmouth Fire Station and held at Falmouth Cricket Club each November, attracted thousands of spectators and generated hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities over the years.
The fire station expressed “considerable regret” over the decision, acknowledging the display had become “a much-loved part of the local calendar” throughout its history.
“The regulatory and legislative landscape surrounding large-scale public events has changed significantly in recent years,” the station said.