Bonfire events cancelled 2021

[Bayum]

Thought it would be interesting to see how many similar sized bonfires across the country would be taking place this year. Leeds city council have announced that none of the council led bonfire or firework shows will be taking place. Haven’t heard from Harrogate yet.

Quoted article below:

None of the six annual bonfire and firework events in Leeds will be going ahead this year, it has been announced.

Leeds City Council said it can not guarantee attendees will be at lower risk of carrying Covid-19 and the decision to cancel the event was not taken lightly.


The cancellation of the event follows guidance issued by the government when restrictions were eased in July 2021 relating to large gatherings at outdoor events including firework displays.
The authority said it must be able to ensure attendees can demonstrate they are at a lower risk of carrying the virus and transmitting it to others. Guidance states there should be a limit on numbers attending.

It would mean everyone attending would need to provide evidence of their covid status either through vaccination, testing or their natural immunity.
Councillor Salma Arif, executive member for public health and active lifestyles, said: “The health and wellbeing of every person in attendance at all proposed council managed events, including our community bonfires remains our absolute priority.

"This is extremely important especially in an environment where the threat of coronavirus is still very much present and it remains unclear looking ahead, what its impact might be in the autumn and winter months. "Every event that we manage is subject to certain checks and safeguards in line with government guidance and we must assess if because of its expected size and scale that measures to limit the spread of coronavirus are put in place.
“Having undertaken an assessment, we do not believe given the additional changes that would need to be implemented, that it is possible to host the six bonfire events this year without incurring significant additional expense and affecting the attendees’ overall enjoyment.

“We certainly did not take this decision lightly, and we know that this news will come as a real disappointment to many people, and this is something that we too very much share.

"We will be continuing to monitor all the guidance and relevant information that is available to us to inform and guide any final decisions that might be made regarding other individual council events scheduled in the future. I am delighted to say that we still have a packed programme of events and activities that people of all ages will be able to enjoy.”

 

[nlogax]

Around here it looks like Kingston upon Thames Rotary Club fireworks will hopefully be going ahead. Seems they're just waiting for final approval.

 

[DarloRich]

Do councils still run fireworks/bonfire events?

 

[Bayum]

Do councils still run fireworks/bonfire events?

Clearly.

 

[ld0595]

The one in Glasgow has been cancelled this year. I think it's because of resources being stretched as a result of COP26 though.

 

[Sm5]

Our local one is quite a big South London event, raises c£20k every year..
The just binned it again, 2nd year in a row, and only 2nd time cancelled in 64 years..2020 being the 1st time.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

Lewes bonfire night seems to be going ahead as normal, at least according to the website.

 

[102 fan]

Cancelling these events sends out one signal;

'The vaccine doesn't work.'

 

[DarloRich]

Cancelling these events sends out one signal;

'The vaccine doesn't work.'

Dont be silly. It actually says we are skint and cant afford it.

 

[Bayum]

Cancelling these events sends out one signal;

'The vaccine doesn't work.'

Clearly they do work. Look at hospitalisation and death rates. They didn’t put the risk assessments together.

 

[najaB]

Thought it would be interesting to see how many similar sized bonfires across the country would be taking place this year.

There's no mention of it on the Dundee City Council website, so I guess it's cancelled again this year.

Cancelling these events sends out one signal;

'The vaccine doesn't work.'

To me it says that budgets are stretched and councils prioritise things like education over entertainment.

 

[DelayRepay]

I think it's about cost cutting, and/or very over cautious councils.

On the Leeds council website it says:

This follows guidance issued by national government when restrictions were eased in July 2021 that particularly relate to large gatherings at outdoor events including firework displays. A key aspect of this guidance is ensuring that people who attend these events demonstrate that they are at a lower risk of carrying COVID-19 and transmitting it to others, and that a limit should be made on numbers attending. Regarding the council’s bonfire and firework events, this would mean that everyone wishing to attend needing to provide evidence of their COVID status either through vaccination, testing or their natural immunity.

To ensure that this could be delivered in an appropriate manner, the council would have had to put in place ticketed arrangements for each individual event. To support crowd management, these tickets would have needed to be distributed to each attendee before each event took place, with no capacity to pick up on the night. In addition, a substantial amount of supplementary infrastructure would also be necessary to control access and check COVID status and tickets. This would mean that gaining entry would take a lot longer for everyone and could mean that those without evidence of their COVID status not being able to gain access. There would also be significant additional costs of putting these measures in place, which added to uncertainty about any further COVID changes that may be made prior to the bonfire events, has meant that following an assessment, a decision has been taken to not to host the events in 2021.

So it seems they believe Covid certification is necessary. But why? These are outdoor events, people generally stand in family groups and I've never been to a bonfire where different families/groups have been particularly crowded together.

Which is the greater risk?

• People catching/spreading Covid at an organised bonfire, given the event is outdoors, the majority of adults are vaccinated and by November the vulnerable will have been offered their booster, or
• People injuring themselves and things catching fire as a result of having fireworks in private gardens. And putting therefore putting the NHS under pressure due to the additional injuries

I thought the main reason councils ran bonfires was for public safety - i.e. by organising professional displays, they reduce the number of people having private bonfires/fireworks.

I bet the Fire Brigade are looking forward to 5 November in Leeds!

 

[102 fan]

Dont be silly. It actually says we are skint and cant afford it.

How many have been cancelled before Covid ? And are they actually saying it is for fiancial reasons?

 

[pdeaves]

Cancelling these events sends out one signal;

'The vaccine doesn't work.'

Dont be silly. It actually says we are skint and cant afford it.

It could be packaged as 'going green', reducing emissions (of one form or another) and global warming.

 

[102 fan]

It could be packaged as 'going green', reducing emissions (of one form or another) and global warming.

If they haven't been cancelled before Covid, the perception will be that Covid is the reason why.

 

[nlogax]

If they haven't been cancelled before Covid, the perception will be that Covid is the reason why.

Maybe, but 'the jabs don't work' isn't some weird, direct conclusion most people will leap to. The public largely gets the reality about stretched budgets and other priorities caused by all this.

 

[DarloRich]

If they haven't been cancelled before Covid, the perception will be that Covid is the reason why.

I agree that is your conclusion.

 

[102 fan]

From the quote from the OP.

'Leeds City Council said it can not guarantee attendees will be at lower risk of carrying Covid-19 and the decision to cancel the event was not taken lightly.


The cancellation of the event follows guidance issued by the government when restrictions were eased in July 2021 relating to large gatherings at outdoor events including firework displays.
The authority said it must be able to ensure attendees can demonstrate they are at a lower risk of carrying the virus and transmitting it to others. Guidance states there should be a limit on numbers attending.

It would mean everyone attending would need to provide evidence of their covid status either through vaccination, testing or their natural immunity.
Councillor Salma Arif, executive member for public health and active lifestyles, said: “The health and wellbeing of every person in attendance at all proposed council managed events, including our community bonfires remains our absolute priority.

"This is extremely important especially in an environment where the threat of coronavirus is still very much present and it remains unclear looking ahead, what its impact might be in the autumn and winter months. "Every event that we manage is subject to certain checks and safeguards in line with government guidance and we must assess if because of its expected size and scale that measures to limit the spread of coronavirus are put in place.
“Having undertaken an assessment, we do not believe given the additional changes that would need to be implemented, that it is possible to host the six bonfire events this year without incurring significant additional expense and affecting the attendees’ overall enjoyment.'

What's the reason they're saying?


'It would mean everyone attending would need to provide evidence of their covid status either through vaccination, testing or their natural immunity.'

And you don't think people will question the 11 month vaccination programme?

 

[DelayRepay]

Apparently, it's all Brexit's fault.

Bonfire Night fireworks ‘70% down’ due to Brexit and supply chain crisis

Suppliers said to be unwilling to stock up because of confusion over safety labelling and extra paperwork

www.theguardian.com

Brexit and the supply chain crisis are threatening to put a dampener on this year’s Bonfire Night firework displays as distributors warn that import problems have reduced stocks by up to 70% and forced up prices.

One supplier said wholesalers were unwilling to stock up on pyrotechnics products because of additional paperwork related to Brexit and a change in safety labelling that has caused confusion about what can be sold in the UK past the end of 2022.

Richard Hogg, at Doncaster based distributor Fireworks Kingdom, said: “Importing fireworks has become very difficult and unstable in the wake of Brexit. Our industry is being hit particularly hard, receiving just 30% of the usual annual supply.”
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...nd-cuts-could-plunge-households-into-hardship
He said a switch from the Europe-wide CE safety label to a UKCA mark, which will be required to sell fireworks in the UK, meant wholesalers were reluctant to build large stocks in case they could not sell those items when the new system comes in. The UKCA label’s introduction was pushed back in August and it will now come into force at the start on 2023.

 

[HSTEd]

Ultimately I would not expect to see such events again.

Councils have already pocketed the money from not cancelling them and coronavirus gives them the perfect excuse to never hold one again.

 

[Sm5]

Ultimately I would not expect to see such events again.

Councils have already pocketed the money from not cancelling them and coronavirus gives them the perfect excuse to never hold one again.

Council doesnt organise one to cancel in our area.
its all done by the Roundtable, Rotary clubs etc.

The costs of organising cant be that large, ours usually had the usual tat sellers, fast food sellers paying to be there. Local businesses usually more than happy to offload hundreds of used pallets for the fire. The whole thing was a big charity fundraiser, £20k a year they say. Firework show was an impressive 20 mins long, sequenced to music sponsored by a local radio, who’d setup and broadcast live from the show.

shame really, will have to settle for burning some kiln dried logs from amazon and putting a video of 2019 fireworks on the TV outside.

 

[najaB]

Councils have already pocketed the money from not cancelling them and coronavirus gives them the perfect excuse to never hold one again.

While there is a savings to be made from not hosting them, it's uncharitable to accuse councils of 'pocketing' the money when their budgets are so tightly squeezed.

 

[Dent]

The costs of organising cant be that large, ours usually had the usual tat sellers, fast food sellers paying to be there. Local businesses usually more than happy to offload hundreds of used pallets for the fire. The whole thing was a big charity fundraiser, £20k a year they say. Firework show was an impressive 20 mins long, sequenced to music sponsored by a local radio, who’d setup and broadcast live from the show.

Enough fireworks for a 20 minute display, plus the necessary insurance, wouldn't be cheap.

 

[Highlandspring]

The Perth fireworks display has been have been cancelled due to the Scottish Government’s ridiculous and discriminatory ’vaccine passport’ scheme.

Covid passports blamed as Perth bonfire cancelled for second year running

The annual bonfire in Perth has been cancelled for a second year, with organisers saying Covid passport requirements were to blame. Around eight

www.thecourier.co.uk

 

[Ediswan]

Still waiting for Stevenage to declare their intentions. Last year it was 'Hope to be back bigger and better next year'. The display is free, it would be impractical to control access.

 

[Gareth]

I haven't seen a local bonfire display for years. I'd assumed they'd been health & safetyed

 

[Sm5]

Enough fireworks for a 20 minute display, plus the necessary insurance, wouldn't be cheap.

60 out of 62 years says its possible.
https://www.facebook.com/carshaltonfireworks/

Annual charity fireworks and bonfire display which takes place at Carshalton Park in Carshalton, Surrey. Often raising over £20,000 for local charities.

The show they put on is top class… the annual turn out for it definitely shows its reputation proceeds it.

Its a 20 minute show to music, followed a huge 20m plus tall fire of pallets set in a 100m wide bowl shaped quarry pit about 20m deep set in a park, so you can stand close to the edge and look down on it. Goes on for about 4 hours Including the pre-show build up, fire burn down etc.

several thousand attend annually for sure.

 

[Starmill]

It's not a statutory duty of a local authority to provide fireworks displays. Of course, it's a solid 'nice to have' like Christmas decorations are. I assume everyone who would like their local authority to be funded appropriately votes for higher council taxes locally and for central government who will offer more funding?

 

[DelayRepay]

It's not a statutory duty of a local authority to provide fireworks displays. Of course, it's a solid 'nice to have' like Christmas decorations are. I assume everyone who would like their local authority to be funded appropriately votes for higher council taxes locally and for central government who will offer more funding?

It might not be a statutory duty, but like I said in an earlier post, if it reduces the number of people having private bonfires and fireworks in gardens, and therefore reduces the number of accidents it's a good thing. The fire brigade always advise people to go to an organised display because it's safer.

In many areas there are large displays organised by other organisations such as charities, so I guess in those circumstances a council display is less important.

But anyway, if the Local Authorities cannot afford to run fireworks displays, they should say that. Then maybe charities and other groups would step in. But they're not saying that, they're saying it's because of Covid certification, even though this isn't a legal requirement in England...

 

[Bayum]

It's not a statutory duty of a local authority to provide fireworks displays. Of course, it's a solid 'nice to have' like Christmas decorations are. I assume everyone who would like their local authority to be funded appropriately votes for higher council taxes locally and for central government who will offer more funding?

Most councils have managed in previous years ‍♂️