THERE will be no bonfire celebration at Bromsgrove’s Sanders Park for a second year running after the district council confirmed the light show which took place last November would be returning.
The event – featuring several days of street theatre, music and food stalls – received a mixed response in 2021 with some welcoming it and others lambasting the authority for not having a traditional November 5 celebration.
Exact dates and specific event details have not yet been confirmed but will be available nearer the time.
Coun Michael Thompson, Portfolio Holder for Leisure Services and Climate Change, said: “Last year’s event was very successful and allowed families the flexibility to attend on multiple days. Now that we have tested it, we can make it a bigger and better event going forward, with more to see and do.
“The revived event will also be less dangerous for resident wildlife and is less upsetting for dogs, cats and small pets living nearby, which is a concern every year.”
The council said in a recent resident survey, 92 per cent said they were concerned about climate change, 86 per cent suggested lifestyle changes were essential to bring about carbon reduction and 84 per cent agreed dealing with Climate Change should be one of the council’s key priorities.
It added the ‘actively made changes’ could ‘feed into the cause’ and also led to less cars arriving in the local area on one single night meant less air pollution and emissions, along with the carbon, air pollution and litter created by the bonfire and fireworks themselves.
It was also mooted last year the light show cost a lot less than the traditional bonfire and fireworks and saved the district council a substantial amount of money.
Bromsgrove District Council leader, Coun Karen May, said: “To add to this, we still have a duty to consider the pandemic as part of our forward planning for events because no one knows what the world will look like come November.
“Covid guidance right now is very relaxed, but the virus is still very much out there and has not yet been downgraded.
“We do have to learn to live with this but, providing an event which is safer and can be appreciated by everyone, in my opinion, is still the best option.
“This event gives us with the best of both worlds and will bring enjoyment to many.”
Email the Parks and Events Team at [email protected] for more.
- WHAT do you think? Do you agree with the council’s choice of a light show rather than a traditional bonfire and fireworks? Did you attend last year’s event? What did you think? Or maybe you feel the bonfire and fireworks should return. Whatever your think, email your views to [email protected]
