Bonfire permission reminder slipped through the net
A REMINDER about having to seek written permission for bonfire parties of a certain size went out late as the States’ communications team was swamped dealing with the Covid-19 response.
Permission is needed under the air quality law which has been place for less than a year.
As the reminder went out late, organisers have been asked to submit an application as soon as possible.
As of yesterday, 35 firework displays had been registered on gov.gg/fireworks. Of these, three were open to the public.
The reminder statement on behalf of Environment & Infrastructure was issued on Thursday and said organisers should allow at least 10 working days before the event.
Ten working days from the date of the release is 5 November, suggesting anyone holding a bonfire party before this date for Guy Fawkes night had missed the deadline.
But there was reassurance from a States spokesman.
‘We appreciate the reminder we’ve given to those planning larger bonfires has been shorter than would usually be the case.
‘Getting the message out fell behind the normal schedule due to a number of developing priorities in recent days, primarily the communications needed as part of the ongoing Covid-19 response.’
If for this reason event organisers are not able to get their applications in with 10 days notice, E&I asks that they send theirs in as soon as they can.
La Houguette Primary School holds an annual public firework display and bonfire party, which is run by the PTA.
Secretary Rachel Mason said they were unaware of the law change and requirement to apply for a written exemption until reading it in a Guernsey Press article online on Thursday.
Mrs Mason contacted Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation on Friday about the event on 6 November and heard back within an hour with confirmation of the exemption.
‘Very few people seemed to know about the changes to the law, I’m not sure it was publicised very well, but Environmental Health have been unbelievably helpful,’ she said.
‘Last year we had about 850 people at the event out west, and – weather dependent – we hope to have a similar number this year.’
Ben Hunter from St Martin’s AC, which also holds a yearly public display with a bonfire, said organisers saw the late reminder on Thursday and filed an application that day. Environmental Health responded with confirmation of a written exemption the same day.
The States will not release the number of applications for written exemptions that would have met the ‘10 working days notice’ guidelines, as they said applications are still coming in so it will not be a ‘relevant’ number.
