9:00am Thursday 5th October 2006
By Helen Cartwright
BONFIRE Night looks set to go out with more of a whimper than a bang this November after the council cancelled it's organised fireworks displays.
Warrington Borough Council has announced that the annual events in Orford, Woolston and Birchwood won't be going ahead next month because they cost too much money.
Birchwood town councillors said they were furious when they received the news. Clr Chris Fitzsimmons, leader of the town council, called it a very mean-spirited act.' And some residents have also voiced concerns that the cancellation could lead to more people choosing to hold their own displays - which is against fire service advice.
Dave Stamp, the council's, head of parks and green spaces, said: "Unfortunately, the combination of severe budget pressures, together with increasingly onerous event smanagement and essential site and public safety measures has resulted in these high cost events being withdrawn."
Clr Pauline Nelson, chairman of the Birchwood Town Council, said: "We are extremely upset that this community event has been cancelled.
"We received very late notice of this decision and there has been no opportunity for the town council to try to make alternative arrangements."
One resident, who did not want to be named, added: "There is more chance that people will stage their own events which can be dangerous."
The council banned bonfires in the town in 2003 following health and safety concerns.
Kevin Massey, community safety officer at Warrington fire station, urged residents to go to organised displays wherever possible.
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