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New body to actively encourage public events as ESAG is scrapped by Duncan Smith


•ble Valley. It all comes in the wake of last year’s Clitheroe


ing group drawing up proposals, in co-opertaion with the County Council, police, fire and ambu­ lance services, for the creation of a new group to advise on the conduct of major events in the Rib-


SEE PAGE 8


events was not in doubt, the irony was that its likely effect was just the opposite. Without the well organised public bonfire and fireworks dis­ play, many people would instead have “back yard bonfires” and fireworks, completely unregulated and unsupervised. Although ESAG was headed up by Ribble Val-


popular.and safe event in the hands of its organ­ isers from local Rotary, Round Table and Lions clubs for many years previously, but they claimed increasing restrictions and conditions placed on them by ESAG - often late in the day - made it impossible to proceed. And while ESAG’s key aim to ensure safe


ganisers of other events, including Waddington Scarecrow Festival, coming forward to say they had cancelled for the same reasons. Clitheroe’s community bonfire had been a very


Bonfire and Firework Display, which organisers cancelled because they said they could no longer work with ESAG. They claimed the body, which was in theory set up to help people organise pub­ lic events, was in reality doing the exact opposite, throwing obstacles in their way, finding reasons why things shouldn’t go ahead and tieing them up in red tape. Publicity over the cancelled bonfire led to or­


“SAY goodbye to ESAG, the Events Safety Advisory Committee,” proclaimed Kibble Valley Borough Councillor Ken Hind this week. His comments follow a borough council work­


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Bonfire to rise from the ashes?


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FLASHBACK: Ribble Valley residents turned out in force last Autumn, marching on a meeting of the borough council in a bid to save Clitheroe’s popular conrimunity bonfire


major events like the Clitheroe bonfire from ESAG officials,” promised Coun. Hind this week. “We can look forward to organisers who want to


the emergency services. After the bonfire contro­ versy it vvas clear things needed to change, estab­ lishing a new, more accountable and transparent body with a clear and positive focus on enabling events to go ahead. “There will be no more interference during


1^ Borough Council, under the chairmanship of its Emergency Planning Officer, it comprised - members from several other agencies, including


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ESAG with a new body - the Ribble Valley Safety Advisory Group. The changes include greater openness; minutes of meetings will be public and on the RVBC web site. Event organisers will be able to hear the reports of the officials involved. • (continued on page 3)


will welcome and assist rather than confront them. “The Policy and Finance Committee approved a report making major changes and replacing


bring their events to Ribble Valley having more confidence in the health and safety system, which


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