THERE are still hopes that the popular annual Catshill bonfire could go ahead this year after fears it would be cancelled for the first time in its 45-year history.
Catshill Community Events, which took over as the sole operators last year, announced earlier in the week this year’s would not be held after concerns over a potential new venue.
They said the meadow was deemed no longer safe or suitable for an event on this scale.
The volunteers and other sources said they had put a lot of thought into finding a new spot for the event.
That venue was Lingfield Park and Catshill Community Events was planning to consult on its plans in September.
The organisers said the bonfire would have been safely raised near the Scout Hut and the launching of fireworks would have been possible off-site, away from crowds, houses and wildlife.
The venue would also have been fully-equipped with a first aid suite, a lost person point, more entrances for better crowd control and more vendors to reduce queuing.
And, it being the ‘perfect size’, far away from a busy road with easy access for people and the emergency services, would have made the whole event much safer.
Coun Bernard McEldowney, believing the mooted venue Lingfield Park was already in the public domain and thinking consultation had started, included it in the newsletter.
This led to a lot of concern from residents living near Lingfield Park and some had even launched social media campaigns against the move before knowing all the facts.
A Catshill Community Events spokesperson said: “Now there’s too much negativity to have a constructive conversation during a consultation.
“For many, the Catshill Bonfire is their first memory, so it will be sadly missed. The volunteers are truly sorry to cancel and they appreciate your ongoing support of our community events.”
Coun McEldowney said he had included the information in good faith.
Following developments, he added members of Catshill and Marlbrook Parish Council, which funds the annual event, would be meeting to discuss the options but, overall, wanted to ensure a bonfire and fireworks event went ahead this year – either at The Meadow, which he believed was suitable, or at a different venue.
The event was one of the few remaining traditional bonfires and fireworks events in the area.
Bromsgrove District Council has previously come under fire for axing the main Sanders Park bonfire and fireworks night, replacing it instead with a light show.
The council has previously said the move was better for the environment and saved the council cash.
