An Oxford fireworks event may go ahead after Oxford City Council received an application from the Round Table for the event in November.
The charity event in November last year resulted in damage to the park due to adverse weather and vehicle movements on the grass. The last of the remedial works were recently completed by ODS and funded by Round Table. The event, which has been running for over five decades, drew more than 20,000 attendees in 2023 and raises tens of thousands of pounds for a range of local groups and charities each year.
The application will now go through the formal consultation process with park stakeholders Friends of South Park and Oxford Preservation Trust. Oxford City Council officers met with these groups last month to discuss how lessons learned from last year’s event should be taken on board. If the event was to go ahead, significant measures would need to be implemented to mitigate any potential damage to South Park.
Proposed changes include:
• Clear cancellation protocol: A defined protocol to ensure events would not go ahead if adverse weather conditions make damage to the park likely, such as high winds or wet ground conditions
• Limiting vehicle access/egress: Significant restrictions on vehicle movements to reduce wear and tear on the park's grounds.
• Use of temporary roadway for essential vehicle movements: Temporary roadway would be used for heavy vehicles, providing a more robust solution compared to the matting used previously.
• Scaled down fair, with lighter infrastructure: A smaller fair and lighter infrastructure would minimise impact on the park.
• No bonfire: This year's event would not include a bonfire, further reducing the potential for ground damage.
"The annual Round Table fireworks display in South Park is an Oxford tradition that brings pleasure to thousands of people every year. I very much want to see this year’s event go ahead, but it is essential we don’t see any repeat of the damage done to South Park last year. The Council will be reviewing the application carefully to make sure all the necessary precautions are in place to protect the park.”
Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Inclusive Economy at Oxford City Council
“Our volunteers have worked hard to make sure all the feedback from last year’s event was heard, and acted upon. Without a doubt, we couldn't let this staple event of the Oxford calendar disappear, and we're pleased that our new event plan protects both the fabric of the park, and the event itself, ensuring charities and groups across the county can apply for much needed funding. This event has raised over £150k in the last three years alone.”
Josh Worsfold, Chairman of Oxford Round Table
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