MALBOROUGH Bonfire and Fireworks Evening will not be taking place this year, Malborough Village Hall and Playing Field Association chairman explains why.

Andy Morgan, MVH&PFA chair, said: ‘In past years, a great local village event – Malborough’s Bonfire and Fireworks Evening, which is usually held on the November 5 each year - has proved to be a very popular and well supported evening with much needed funds being raised for Malborough Village Hall and Playing Fields Association.

‘Sadly, despite calls for volunteers being made through several editions of The Messenger - Malborough’s local newsletter, Malborough in Touch - Malborough’s village email, a large advert in The Gazette, sign up lists in the Village Hall and Post Office and several postings on Facebook with a deadline of the October 7, there was insufficient response to enable the event to be run safely, despite the preparations which were already in place.

‘Following the decision to cancel, on October 12, more volunteers came forward and the organising committee was asked to re-consider their decision. However, the increased interest by members of the public on Facebook following the cancellation had to be taken into account in the review of the original decision.

‘Various options were considered to try and restrict numbers attending by perhaps making it a ticketed event or downscaling the event. Neither of these options were felt to be viable for 2016.

‘Malborough is a village with insufficient parking available for very large events. In addition, the sporting users of the playing fields were very keen to ensure that there was no firework or bonfire residue remaining on the fields but were unable to support the event by providing the necessary marshals or helpers in the clean up process the following day, because of their own insurance liabilities.

‘With the ruling of no sparklers to be taken onto the fields, we had to be able to marshall not only this rule but also the parking, firework and bonfire areas. With large numbers expected, we did not have sufficient manpower to do this, even with the additional volunteers who had come forward, and ensure everyone’s safety.

‘Having had an insurance claim in 2014, from a member of the public, despite all the necessary safety preparations being in place, the committee could not stage an event in 2016 without sufficient marshalling, safety control and parking.

‘It was with great regret, therefore, that the organising committee had to uphold their original decision to cancel the evening. They ask that members of the public do not take unofficial fireworks onto the playing fields. With five football matches scheduled for Sunday, November 6, any firework residue or sparkler wires could cause serious injury to the young players.

‘Clearly many have been disappointed by this decision and, unfortunately, some have chosen to use social media to publicly criticise individual members of the committee. All of the members of MVH&PFA work together voluntarily to run the hall and playing fields for the benefit of hirers and villagers alike.

‘Malborough is so lucky to have the hall, playing fields, tennis courts, play area, skateboard park and community wood in the village and the committee works to upgrade and manage the areas to the best of their ability.

‘The last 18 months or so have seen the hall roof replaced, new hall heating, decoration of the annexe and this week, the hall floor is being re-surfaced. Decoration of the inside of the hall is taking place over the Christmas period.

‘Is there to be a Bonfire and Fireworks Evening in 2017? A sub-committee is being formed to answer that very question and to work with Malborough Village Hall and Playing Fields Committee to endeavour to resolve all of the issues concerning such an event.’