Attempt to reignite fireworks event fails

Tamworth Borough Council says it can no longer safely host the event at Tamworth Castle Grounds

Efforts to revive a town's annual fireworks display after its cancellation earlier this month, have ended in failure.

Local representatives tried to force Tamworth Borough Council to review its decision relating to the previously free-of-charge event in the castle grounds.

Earlier this year, it was decided it should be held at Statfold Country Park and introduce an entrance fee, but it was subsequently cancelled following "significant negative reaction".

Authority leaders said they had been forced to make the move because of new safety requirements under new terrorism legislation, known as Martyn's Law, adding an estimated £100,000 to the bill for the event.

They said the event was already costing about £70,000 each year, a figure which was disputed by some.

During an extraordinary council meeting this week, councillor Martin Summers suggested returning the event to the castle instead of cancelling it.

"If we tried hard enough, we could have the fireworks this year and make it happen and I think we should at least try," he said.

'Completely irresponsible'

However, councillor Ben Clarke said surveys of residents had shown people wanted the authority to prioritise spending on essential services and make savings on things like arts, assembly rooms and outdoor events.

"The fireworks in the castle grounds have become a victim of its own success," said councillor Lewis Smith.

"It had 24,000 people attending and while this is positive it is causing an issue for public safety and more than anything else the safety of the public comes first."

He added it would be "completely irresponsible to increase the already bloated events budget" while savings had to be found elsewhere.

To go ahead the event would need to be compliant under the terror legislation, named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.

A motion which called on the Labour administration to produce reconsider the location of the event was defeated, with all Labour councillors present at the meeting voting it down.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.