Battle organisers await approval for event go ahead

The Battle Strategy Group took control of the association's assets at a meeting on Tuesday evening

The new organisers of the Battle of Flowers say they are awaiting permission for the event to go ahead.

The Battle Strategy Group said it had submitted final plans to the bailiff's office for the annual event, which is set to commence on a smaller scale on 8 and 9 August.

A new temporary route was announced at the beginning of July, taking the floats off the main strip of the avenue and into the town of St Helier.

The breakaway group took control of the association's assets at a meeting on Tuesday evening.

Organiser Martyn Maguire said it was important for the group to take official control.

He said: "We wanted to put in place all the correct governance for the association, so that's what we did.

"We had a battle strategy group running battle this year, but we really needed to take control of the actual association so that we could control the assets of the association, such as the battle shed and the office."

Jersey's government has given nearly £160,000 in funding for the events, despite its overspend of about £150,000 last year.

Mr Maguire said the grant was "focused solely on the battle for this year".

He said: "Now that we have control of the association, we're going to try and work closely with them to sort out some of the issues if we can, or at least help, but mainly at this moment in time, we're focused on battle, which is in two weeks' time."