Oxford City Council has announced an update on the restoration work at South Park to repair extensive surface damage following the annual fireworks event on 4 November 2023.
In December, an inspection of the site by specialists confirmed that there has been no long-term damage sustained to the ridge and furrow archaeological features. The Council set out its commitment to ensure the park was restored as soon as the growing season enabled works to be undertaken.
Now, following further engagement with Oxford Round Table, and local stakeholders including Friends of South Park, and Oxford Preservation Trust, the Council can confirm further details of the restoration works.
Restoration work
The restoration work will involve some ground levelling and reseeding. This will need to take place when the conditions allow for the work to be carried out without further damage - once the ground is dry.
It is expected that this will take place in three stages:
- the top and driest part of the park
- the middle section
- the lower, wettest, part of the park
The Council is monitoring the ground and soil condition, to assess when work can start. Oxford Round Table has appointed two contractors to carry out the work once the conditions are suitable. One for the open areas of the park and the other to fix damage near the trees. This work will be monitored by the Council.
In the meantime, signage is in place to encourage users to take different paths to avoid the muddy, uneven areas and prevent further churning up of the ground.
Lessons for the future
The Council is continuing to hold discussions with stakeholders and Oxford Round Table which hosts the annual Charity Fireworks Display. Discussions are ongoing about how lessons can be learned for future events, and how such damage can be avoided in future as we face increasingly wet winters.
Comment
"We are concerned about the damage from last year’s fireworks event in South Park. The event has taken place successfully for fifty years, and last year saw more than 25,000 tickets sold.
“We have been working with stakeholders on how we can restore the park, and how we can avoid this happening again. We have a plan of action around when we can start the restoration work at South Park. We appreciate the patience of our stakeholders and communities who have worked with us to develop a plan, and while we wait for the ground conditions to be ready. We hope that work can start soon.”Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks
“Oxford Preservation Trust holds a Covenant over South Park in order to protect the park in its natural state for all those who live here and visit to enjoy. We remain deeply concerned about the damage caused as a result of last year’s fireworks event. We are pleased to be working with the City Council to ensure restoration works to the park are undertaken at the earliest opportunity, and we continue to liaise with the City Council as to how future events are organised and managed within the park to avoid such damage happening again.”
Anna Eavis, CEO of Oxford Preservation Trust
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