Ferry Meadows will never again host the Fireworks Fiesta
The Fireworks Fiesta at Ferry Meadows in 2009. Photo: Ben Davis/Peterborough ET
Nene Park Trust chief executive James McCulloch announced on Thursday (3 November) that organisers will have to find a new venue for Peterborough’s annual Firework Fiesta.
It follows the scrapping in September of this year’s Fiesta, which was due to be held on Saturday at the country park.
It is a hammer blow to Rotary and Round Table members, who had hoped the event could return to the city park in 2012 despite this year’s cancellation.
Firework Fiesta committee chairman Colin Harrison was told that the event was no longer “appropriate” for the park and he added that this decision could see Firework Fiesta scrapped for good.
Mr McCulloch cited traffic management concerns as the reason the park would not hold the event again, claiming there were too many “technical” problems with handling 12,000 visitors arriving and leaving the same site in the dark and at the same time.
But when pressed on the exact problems, Mr McCulloch said that was between the trust and the Firework Fiesta committee.
In response, Mr Harrison said: “We can resolve every issue that the trust has, every single one.
“We have health and safety advisers and if there needs to be any changes we could make them.
“I’m absolutely shocked at this announcement. It seems that the trust keeps on moving the goalposts.
“If they really wanted the event at Ferry Meadows we could do it, it just doesn’t seem to fit in with the trust’s vision.
“I really don’t know what to make of it. There may well not be a future for the event in Peterborough.”
Mr McCulloch, speaking to the Evening Telegraph yesterday, said: “There’s all sorts of issues with lighting, marshalling, safety and traffic, and in fairness to the committee, they have kept chipping away at it.
“We have been raising concerns way back to 1996 and there just comes a point where you realise you cannot sort certain things out to get people on and off safely and efficiently in the dark.
“The committee has cut numbers parking at Ferry Meadows quite considerably and that is through off-site parking. But what we have to remember is we have large numbers of cars entering onto the site through Ham Lane, which is the only road entrance into Ferry Meadows, and it is also used by pedestrians and the emergency services.
“I think if the committee had a solution to these problems they would have put it down in the last few years so it is very unlikely that it could return.”
Mr McCulloch admitted there had been no problems at past events with traffic management on and off the site, nor did he know whether the police or the council had a problem with road arrangements for the event.
He said: “I have to say that no problems with traffic management have occurred at the event in the past but that does not make much difference if something goes wrong in the future.
“The fact that nothing has happened in the past is excellent, but if anything had gone wrong we would find it quite difficult to defend.
“I’m not aware of whether the council or police were satisfied with the traffic plans for the event.
“But we have to ensure all the right arrangements are in place to get people on and off the site and the council and police have to be happy with it. Ultimately it’s our decision.”
Ferry Meadows has played host to the event for more than 30 years and each year tens of thousands of pounds is raised for local Rotary and Round Table charities.
Mr McCulloch has suggested the committee looks for a way that the Fiesta could be held at the East of England Showground, despite Mr Harrison saying this week it was not the ideal location.
There are several logistical reasons for this, including a concern that the event would not make as much money for local charities because people would watch from the car park rather than entering the arena.
Mr Harrison said: “We used to hold the event at the showground but 30 years ago we were encouraged to move it to Nene Park.”
Public response:
THE Evening Telegraph was inundated with emails calling for the Firework Fiesta to return to Ferry Meadows.
• Steve Pawson said: “It’s a desperate shame that the event is not being held this year. I am sure that with goodwill any traffic management concerns could be overcome.”
• Alan Meiklejohn said: “Apart from the obvious enjoyment for families, the loss of revenue to a number of charitable causes is quite appalling in these tough economic times. It also looks like our MP and councillors have not picked up on this – asleep as usual.”
• Mac Warwick said: “The Nene Park Trust should be ashamed of themselves for preventing Firework Fiesta.”
• David Pennell said: “We will lose the joy of our children watching a wonderful display in safety as well as the benefits which go to the charities which the event supports. What a pity. This is a truly short-sighted action on the part of the trust.”
• EB Thain said: “In my view, and that of everyone I have spoken to, this decision that should be reversed in time for November 2012.”
• Mary Shakespeare said: “Firework Fiesta is one of the best events that Peterborough gives the community... we want to save it!!”
What do you think?
Contact our news team by email news@peterboroughtoday.co.uk, telephone 01733 588719, on Twitter - @peterboroughet or use our Have Your Say - online form
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Comments
There are 44 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Fish
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 12:11 AM#43 Ferry Meadows is not a nature reserve and the trustees have no right to turn it into such. It is a public park. Why should the organisers pay the showground for rent when the people of Peterborough already have such a large public park? And if the organisers do not want to pay, so what, they only have this view as they wish to raise the maximum for charity.
Steve Wilson
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 05:12 AMI wish to congratulate Mr McCulloch and the Trustees of Ferry Meadows. A country park which incorporates a nature reserve is not a suitable site for noisy fireworks and only those with vested interests can object. As was reported in this paper, there are other displays around this city. According to 'Twilight' there are better displays around this city which also donate the profits to charity. Being cynical, I wonder what the relationship is between those objecting in your paper and the organisers of the cancelled display. I am sure that the objections to the Showground have more to do with the fees that would have to be paid to use that venue than its ambiance.
nickbandit
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 06:34 PMI do wonder whether the true reason for the objection and cancellation of the event has anything to do with someone on the council having recently bought property in the area surrounding the venue and not wanting to have to put up with the noise and traffic for one night a year. Hmm?
whatisthisworldcomingto
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 09:33 PMwho cares with 2 for 1 in supermarkets its a cheaper display lol
Kermit
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 06:39 PMSurely the Peterborough City Council (Mr Jon Marsden and Geoffrey Ridgway) and the Cambs County Council (Mr Alan Morris) at least, must have a view on what is being done in their names?
A local chap
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 06:04 PMLots of trustees from Peterborough.....NOT Mr Paul Hutton OBE (Chairman) (2003) appointed by the Bishop of Peterborough Mr David Bath (Vice-Chairman) (1988) Royal Town Planning Institute Mr Richard Arnold (1988) The Law Society Dr Martin Dixon (2006) University of Cambridge, Department of Land Economy Canon Mostyn Davies (1988) Board of Management Mr Terence Hadoke (2000) Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Mr Jon Marsden (2005) Peterborough City Council Mr Alan Morris (2008) Cambridgeshire County Council Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland (2006) Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Dr Colin Prosser (2010) Natural England Mr Geoffrey Ridgway (1990) Peterborough City Council
tcronin
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 12:49 PMMr McCulloch will no doubt use this wretched matter to demonstrate that he is not afraid to make unpopular and tough decisions. Perhaps he ought to remember when considering his next career move that there is plenty of material in the public domain to provide ample examples of questionable representation of facts. Google is often a potential employer's best reference ;-)
Zanni
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 12:04 PMI heard a rumour that McCulloch's long term plan is to fence off a large part of the site and charge for access. It will also enable the Park to hold larger gated events similar to the East of England Showground, he wouldnt do a thing like that though, would he...
Alan Bothamley
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 11:26 AMThe only way that firework Fiesta will return to Ferry Meadows is when the board members of the Nene Park Trust realise that their current Chief Exectutive is the wrong person for the job. His attitude and draconian management style has resulted changes in the staff at the park, the introduction of charges to enter the park by car, the loss of a number of annual events and most importantly the loss of respect of the people of Peterborough for which the Park was set up in the first place. The board must act now to rid themselves of this tyrant. THE NEXT E.T HEADLINE SHOULD READ NENE PARK CHIEF EXECUTIVE McCULLOCH IS SACKED BY THE NENE PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Kermit
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 11:10 AMA patronising, condescending load of tripe has appeared on the Trust website from the Top Gun - http:www.neneparktrust.org.uknews-eventsfirework-fiesta-needs-a-new-home . If you look around their website at the long list of 'educational' events which the park now provides, think about the new 'educational centre', look at the '2020 vision' plans, it's clear where the park is going. The Trust, under the thumb of McCulloch are on an eco green award winning flag waving world leading power trip to make it a park that has nothing to do with providing for the Recreation of the People of Peterborough. The Firework Fiesta didn't fit that glossy image and so it was kicked out.
A local chap
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 09:10 AMThe organisers have looked at where to hold it and concluded with their firework suppliers that FM is the best place. JAMES MCCULLOCH and the trustees need to take a close look at their positions. To manage a major local attraction whilst ignoring the 15000 who enjoy this and the £30k a year raised for local charities? And the deceit of the events licence application?
tcronin
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 12:21 AMAs soon as Ferry Meadows went from being a "Park" to an "Asset", you know the interests of the people of Peterborough are last on the list of priorities.
Poshlady.
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 12:16 AMNone of this makes sense. There is clearly more to this story and no doubt the truth will come out eventually
Buzz Killington
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 12:08 AMI must say I'm intrigued by this conspiracy of silence surrounding the cancellation of the annual fireworks display at Ferry Meadows, as alluded to by several commentors here. I'm going to blame the Bilderberg Group, clearly they are hoarding Peterborough's supply of fireworks to feed to their cabal of firework-eating shape-shifting lizard-people.
This is a rubbish website
Friday, November 4, 2011 at 11:48 PMThe issue with this isn't where it would be best for it to take place but the deceit and lies behind putting a stop to it at such short notice with pathetic excuses. As for other locations - embankment and central park would be no good as they're in a built up area and the showground would be characterless. The Ferry Meadows display was the largest firework display in East Anglia so impossible to relocate with such short notice - if it ever will be!
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