Coates new venue for fireworks party (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Coates new venue for fireworks party

CIRENCESTER fireworks display is to be held outside the town for the first time in its 30-year history.

Instead, the event - one of the most popular in the town's calendar, regularly attracting around 5,000 people - will be held on the outskirts of Coates.

This week, organiser Cirencester Round Table said it was sorry the event would not be held in the town centre, but had wanted to ensure a display went ahead after exhausting all options in the town itself (see panel).

City Bank in Watermoor was the traditional home of the fireworks display.

But following instances of flooding that led to the postponement or cancellation of the event for several years running, the Round Table started to look for a more suitable site in 2003.

Organisers thought they had found the perfect venue in the playing fields of Cirencester Infant and Junior Schools in Victoria Road.

But after a high-profile dispute with the Cotswold Swan and Bird Rescue Centre, both before and after birds died of fright or were trampled by other frightened birds during last year's display, the Round Table was once again forced to look for a new venue.

Round Table committee member Alastair Goulty told the Standard this week: "We've been looking at sites for much of this year but, for one reason or another, potential venues in the town have proved unsuitable, so we've had to look further afield.

"It's sad that we've had to go out of town. One of the best things about having it in town is that people can walk to the event.

"But we think it's a good venue. It will need careful traffic management, though, as the site is down a single track lane."

Mr Goulty said the parish council had been consulted and residents living nearest to the site had received a letter and an offer of free tickets to the event.

Landowner the Bathurst Estate had also been consulted after tenant farmer Fred Crew offered his land for the event, having read an appeal for help in the Standard back in July.

Mr Goulty admitted that the Round Table expected attendance numbers to be down at this year's event.

"We've budgeted for a 50 percent drop in the amount of money we raise for good causes this year," he said.

"It's a major disappointment and all of us would have liked it to be in Cirencester.

"But we had the choice of not putting on an event at all or finding a new venue outside the town.

"Anyway, it's a good site and will be our best display ever."

* The event will be held at Setts Farm, Coates on Saturday, November 6. There'll be a location and site map and full details in a forthcoming edition of the Standard.

The theme of the event is The Olympics and this will be reflected in the music and fireworks.

The Round Table is still looking for sponsors as all profits are donated to charities or good causes in the town. Anyone wishing to sponsor the event can contact Alastair Goulty on 07919 334557.

Last year's event raised nearly £9,000 for good causes. Groups or individuals seeking assistance from the proceeds of this year's event can contact Adam Marsh on 07765 124612.

The Standard is the event's media sponsor.