Opposition concerns over scaled-back Diwali event

Opposition councillors said scaling back the event would "gut" the annual Diwali celebrations

Leicester's stripped back Diwali celebrations could harm a "major economic lifeline" for businesses along the Golden Mile, councillors have said.

The city council said there would be "major changes" at this year's event due to crowd safety concerns, with the stage entertainment and firework display no longer featuring and Cossington Street Recreation Ground not being used.

Opposition councillors said the changes would "gut" the celebrations, adding small businesses relied on the festivities as a "vital boost".

Leicester City Council said it was looking at possibly extending the closure on Belgrave Road and assessing what activities could go ahead safely "without affecting public safety".

The council said the Wheel of Light would return this year

About 50,000 people were believed to have attended last year's Diwali celebrations, with record numbers coming over the past two years, the council said.

Labour's assistant mayor for culture Vi Dempster said the city's Hindu festival of light - one of the biggest outside of India - had "become a victim of its own success".

She said relocating the annual event, which has been running for more than 40 years, was considered after the authority was "strongly advised it could not continue safely in its current format".

However, that prompted local businesses to argue against the move.

As a result the council has decided to scale back the festivities, but thousands of lights along the Golden Mile would still be installed and the Wheel of Light will return.

The council's Tory leader said the Golden Mile was one of the city's "crown jewels" and must be protected

In response to the changes, Conservative city councillors believe a better solution could have been found.

The group said they had asked officers to extend road closures in Loughborough Road and in Melton Road to "accommodate bigger crowds" and to move activities where crowds congregate from Belgrave Road to "a safe open space".

Tory leader Hemant Rae Bhatia told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "Of course we fully understand that public safety must come first, but this is not just about lights and fireworks.

"Show me an event anywhere in the world where people turn up to see nothing.

"When the council gets this wrong, businesses suffer and so does our city's long-term growth... both economically and culturally.

"The Golden Mile is one of our crown jewels for tourism and culture and we must protect it."

Belgrave Ward councillor Yogesh Chauhan added: "Diwali is a major economic lifeline for our local shops and restaurants.

"More visitors stay overnight and spend in our hotels, taxis, shops and attractions. Labour's half-baked approach risks driving that spend somewhere else instead."

Last year the authority reduced the celebrations from two events to one due to costs

Ms Dempster previously said: "We understand the depth of feeling to see it continue on the Golden Mile where it began over 40 years ago.

"To do that, we must ensure that it can take place safely. That must be paramount."

Graham Callister, the council's head of festivals, events and cultural policy, said: "Scaling back on event infrastructure and activity means there will be the additional space needed and more importantly less congestion to safely welcome the crowds that want to celebrate on Belgrave Road."

A council spokesperson added: "As discussed at a recent meeting with ward councillors, we are looking at the possibility of extending the road closure, and also at what activities could be safely put on without affecting public safety.

"Their [councillors'] suggestion of moving the crowds away from Belgrave Road to 'a safe open space' does contradict their request to stay on Belgrave Road, and they have not suggested another safe open space as an alternative.

"All three emergency services have expressed concern about the event continuing in its previous format, and as the ward councillors know, that is something we can't ignore."