At a meeting of the Great Aycliffe Town Council Recreation Committee on 29th August 2013 members considered the staging of the Council’s annual Firework Display for 2013.
As a result of significantly increased numbers attending the event, following the cancellation of similar events in the region, a number of safety concerns were identified.
Advice was therefore sought from the County Durham Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which offers advice and guidance on event safety.
Unfortunately, as the report to the Committee indicated, based on the recent discussions with SAG, although a number of matters could be addressed, a number of serious concerns remained unresolved.
The decision was therefore taken to cancel the display for 2013. However, it was agreed that the Council and Officers should look at all additional measures which may enable the event to take place in 2014.
Editor; This news will alarm everyone including the Emergency services who will undoubtedly feel the impact of this decision most. Residents can also expect to be annoyed more this year than usual as people make their own arrangements to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night.
There will be an increase in sales of fireworks and they will be set off indiscriminately on and around 5th November, frightening animals, keeping children awake and creating more accidents for the Hospital A & E Department.
Firework Display Minutes
It was proposed by Councillor R.S. Fleming and seconded by Councillor J.D. Clare that we cancel this year’s fireworks display.
An amendment was proposed by Councillor A.M. Chandran and seconded by Councillor E.M. Adam that in view of the fact that the Town Clerk, as Principal Advisor, to the Council is recommending that we do not proceed with this years’ display out of concerns for public health and safety and council corporate responsibility, and in view of the short timescale now available to achieve anything decisive this year, that this years’ firework display be cancelled for this year.
That this council is committed to the annual fireworks display as a safer method for the community to enjoy a display, reducing fireworks in the community and the risk of fires and injuries in the community, by having an approved well run event.
With that objective in mind we instruct the Officers of the Council to look at all necessary measures to ensure that we can put on the fireworks display for 2014, fully meeting with SAG approval.
A named vote took place on the amendment which resulted as follows:-
For the amendment: Councillors E. Adam, J. Atkinson, R. Bowman, A.M. Chandran, J. Clark, N. Collinson, Mrs. M. Dalton, R.S. Fleming, G.C. Gray, B. Hall, J.P. Hillary, Mrs. W.P. Hillary, M. Iveson, Mrs. S.J. Iveson, W. Iveson, P. Kjenstad, D. Summers, T. Twissell and C. Wheeler.
Against the amendment: Councillor J.D. Clare, Mrs. B.A. Clare and I. Gray.
The amendment was then carried. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was unanimously agreed.
