Thatcham Fireworks in search of new venue

The event had been scheduled to launch from the Memorial Hall Playing Fields on Saturday, November 8, after organiser Richard Garvie and trustees reached an agreement after weeks of discussion.
However, Mr Garvie contacted the Newbury Weekly News yesterday (Thursday) to say that the event would no longer be held at the field.
The chairman of the Memorial Hall Trustees, Lee Dillon, told NewburyToday that an agreement in principle had been agreed between Mr Garvie and the trustees as long as certain conditions were met.
The conditions were that money for the event needed to be paid up front; that a risk assessment was to be provided and that a letter was to be sent to residents in the surrounding area, along with written confirmation from Thatcham Cricket Club to launch fireworks from their site.
Mr Dillon said that Mr Garvie had been given a deadline of three weeks before the event to fulfil the conditions and enable the trustees to run through the risk assessment.
However, Mr Dillon said that this had not been received six days past the deadline; leading the trustees to unanimously withdraw their offer of support.
“We are disappointed that it’s not going ahead and we have worked hard with Richard to make this happen but we are not willing to put residents at risk because someone can’t get the paperwork in,” Mr Dillon said.
“We are an organisation that have legal responsibilities. We have to make sure that it’s a safe event.”
Mr Dillon said he had been told that Mr Garvie would be having a site meeting at another location in the town and questioned why Mr Garvie had started looking for a new venue before he had been told by Memorial Hall trustees that he couldn’t use their site.
Mr Garvie would not comment on the record about the latest developments when approached by NewburyToday.
However, a comment on the Thatcham Fireworks Facebook page said: "As we said yesterday, we are looking forward to providing a free show in Thatcham next weekend.
"There may be some changes to the event, but essentially there will be a fun fair, stage, hot food and drinks.
"Most importantly, it will be free to attend. Keep checking back for further updates over the next week or so."