Event organisers defend decision to continue with firework show despite recent dry spell

The event company behind an upcoming major firework display have defended their decision to continue with the event.

MLE Pyrotechnics who organise the Belvoir Castle Fireworks Championships say that conditions have been carefully assessed and a number of precautions have been put in to

place.

The decision to host the event given the recent hot and dry weather has prompted anger from some residents with some saying money is being put before safety.

The Belvoir Fireworks Championships are due to take place at Belvoir Castle tomorrow evening with tickets currently priced online at £32.00.

A message was shared on social media on Thursday evening which shared an update from Belvoir Castle who said this year's event has been relocated to another part of the estate closer to Knipton and adjacent to the lake.

They said the event space has been carefully selected following detailed site inspections and is currently one of the greenest areas of the estate.

It’s a stark contrast from a fireworks event last year when visitors were bogged down and needed to be rescued from the field.

Last year’s fireworks event in November was a washout. Photo: NEMM

In a statement issued to NEMM the organisers, MLW Pyrotechnics said: "As a professional firework display company, we produce multiple displays every week all across the UK. Along with hundreds of other professional operators, we have continued to do so safely throughout this summer's warm weather, with each event being subject to its own site-specific risk assessment.

"Conditions at Belvoir Castle have been carefully assessed and a number of additional precautions have been put in place. The display site has been relocated to the lakeside area of the estate where the ground conditions are significantly greener, all participating display teams have been asked to review their firing plans and make any appropriate adjustments, and two dedicated fire tenders will be on site throughout the event in addition to our normal safety procedures."

The company added that displays also take place in hotter climates.

They added: "Professional fireworks are also routinely displayed in countries such as Spain and Italy, where summer temperatures and dry conditions are often significantly more challenging than those currently being experienced in the UK. The key is not simply the weather, but ensuring that the venue is suitable and that appropriate risk assessments and control measures are in place.

We have successfully delivered this same event at Belvoir Castle in very similar weather conditions previously and have extensive experience of operating safely during periods of warm, dry weather when the appropriate precautions are implemented."

The company, who are based in Northamptonshire, added: "The safety of our staff, competitors, spectators, the estate and the surrounding community remains our highest priority. We continually monitor conditions right up to and during the event and would not proceed if we believed it could not be conducted safely."

A short video from that previous event can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/744359490

Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service has recently issued a warning to the public following the recent spell of dry weather. They advised that Fire Control responded to two calls within 18 minutes due to out of control fires.

They said: "The heatwave conditions are set to continue next week, so please continue to take care with cigarettes and barbecues, and put-off bonfires until the weather changes"

Belvoir Castle were approached for comment but referred NEMM to the event organisers.