Leeds City Council has cancelled the annual public bonfire and firework display in Bramley Park for the second year running due to Covid concerns.
The display is one of Leeds City Council’s six annual bonfire and firework events which will no longer be taking place this year.
The council says this follows guidance issued by national government in July 2021 relating to large gatherings at outdoor events, including firework displays.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for public health and active lifestyles said:
“The health and wellbeing of every person in attendance at all proposed council managed events, including our community bonfires remains our absolute priority. This is extremely important, especially in an environment where the threat of coronavirus is still very much present and it remains unclear looking ahead, what its impact might be in the autumn and winter months. Every event that we manage is subject to certain checks and safeguards in line with government guidance and we must assess if because of its expected size and scale that measures to limit the spread of coronavirus are put in place.
“Having undertaken an assessment, we do not believe – given the additional changes that would need to be implemented – that it is possible to host the six bonfire events this year without incurring significant additional expense and affecting the attendees’ overall enjoyment.
“We certainly did not take this decision lightly, and we know that this news will come as a real disappointment to many people, and this is something that we very much share. We will be continuing to monitor all the guidance and relevant information that is available to us to inform and guide any final decisions that might be made regarding other individual council events scheduled in the future. I am delighted to say that we still have a packed programme of events and activities that people of all ages will be able to enjoy.”bo
Events are held at East End Park; Roundhay Park; Woodhouse Moor; Springhead Park in Rothwell; Middleton Park and Bramley Park. Due to coronavirus, the community bonfires did not take place in 2020.
Once again the council hiding behind covid safety measures ( but they have no problems with football matches/nightclubs/pubs bars etc,where thousands of people attend going ahead).Is it because these events incur no financial input irrispective of the risk of covid spread.I hope these high standards of public health and safety are going to be Adopted for all mass meetings,be they multicultural/sporting/protest/or any large public gatherings that need policing or public finance input.Once again I find the hypocrisy and disregard for public feeling behind these decisions completely beyond belief.BUT SADLY IT IS ALL TOO REAL.