Town council issues statement on cancellation of Ramsgate New Year’s Eve fireworks

Fireworks

Ramsgate Town Council has issued a statement following the cancellation of the New Year’s Eve fireworks over the harbour.

It is only the second time in a decade that the display has had to be cancelled and was prompted by the forecast of high winds.

Town clerk Richard Styles said: “On advice from the fireworks display contractor Viking Fireworks and at the behest of the Ramsgate Port and Royal Harbour Authority, Ramsgate Town Council cancelled the 2018 firework display with regret.

“The decision was taken at 3pm on the 31st December 2017 and took into account the possible risk to public safety of firework debris falling on to vessels and businesses located in the Harbour. The prevailing wind was forecast to remain at around 40/45 mph veering from the South West to West South West and this would have meant that there was a risk that firework debris might drift inland and fall in the harbour area. While this risk was small, it was felt that in the circumstances to continue with a firework display would be an unsafe policy and with regret the display was cancelled.

“We very much regret any inconvenience to the public, but hope that the public will understand that the decision was made in their best interests. We posted the cancellation via social media and I would like to thank Rebekah Smith, the Town Promoter, for organising a response at very short notice, in order to minimise any inconvenience to the public.

“This is only the second time in the last 10 years that a display has had to be cancelled and that the weather at this time of year is most unpredictable, which is probably why this display is the only one of its kind in Thanet.

“Hopefully next year the weather will be kinder and a display can go forward. I know that the display is growing in popularity and is much appreciated by both local residents and visitors to Ramsgate, but if we are to have further displays in the future, a high standard of safety must be maintained at all times.”

1 Comment

Comments are closed.