Bonfire Night festivities cancelled across Britain while councils fund 'diversity jamborees'

Councils across Britain have been slammed after cancelling a host of Bonfire Night traditions due to a range of cost and health and safety concerns.

Some have criticised the councils, which manage to "find the cash for every awareness week and diversity jamboree", but fail to scrape together enough cash for the British tradition.

While cost-cutting measures and health and safety concerns have played a factor, an increased worry over pollution has also caused some events to be cancelled altogether.

In London, the annual display at Carshalton Park in Carshalton, south London, has been cancelled for the first time since the pandemic.

"Escalating costs" and "insufficient support from our local council" were to blame, according to organisers.

In one instance, a host of events in Manchester had been cancelled for the sixth consecutive year.

The council said it had "reprioritised" funding for other events such as Halloween and Christmas parades.

Manor Fields in Sheffield will also be without a major event for Bonfire Night - one that is usually attended by thousands.

Organisers claimed they were "unable to raise the necessary funds" and that there are "additional health and safety requirements and also environmental reasons as to why we cannot go ahead with the event this year."

Cambridge Council permanently banned Bonfire Night after a complaint from a member of the public that the tradition was unlawful, breached council guidelines, and endangered public health in 2022.

It was also mentioned that there was "unnecessary" pollution.

On the council's website, it claims: "Bonfires create pollution which can cause health problems, particularly for people with respiratory problems.

“A bonfire can be seen as a convenient way of getting rid of a large amount of waste. However, it is not usually the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of rubbish.”

One local complained: "Today’s generation has had all the fun taken away. No wonder people feel so lost now."

Fireworks have also been banned in parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with both councils introducing Firework Control Zones in response to escalating anti-social behaviour.

Bonfire Night has seen disorder and anti-social behaviour in some parts of Scotland.

Over 60 people were reported for their involvement in fireworks offences during last year's edition.

Meanwhile, Truro City Council astonishingly blamed “traffic congestion” and the “increasing need to consider how to keep pedestrians and vehicles safe” for their cancellation.

“Truro City Council is not alone in making this decision about its firework display, as other events in the local area have also been cancelled,” the council added.

Campaigns director at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, Elliot Keck has expressed his concern with the cancellations.

“It’s disappointing to see councils cancelling Bonfire Night, one of Britain’s oldest and best-loved traditions," he said.

“Too many councils find cash for every awareness week and diversity jamboree under the sun, but suddenly plead poverty when it comes to traditional British celebrations.

“Instead of penny-pinching on community events, councils should be cutting waste and unnecessary bureaucracy so taxpayers’ money goes towards things that actually bring people together.”

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