Counting cost

Unfortunately, the reports contain several inaccuracies and inconsistencies with the cancellation statement we emailed on October 28, including those listed below. We were not ‘urged to call off the display by West Sussex Fire and Rescue’.

As stated in our press release, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service agreed with our own conclusions that the bonfire would be unsafe to light.

In page three you state ‘the cordon for spectators around the bonfire on The Green had been enlarged’. It had not. As stated in our press release, the safety area for the firework display had been greatly enlarged.

The professional pyrotechnicians did not agree that the fireworks should not be set off. They were prepared to fire a very greatly reduced display and, as stated in the press release, ‘they made the decision that they could not fire any large or high mortars in the conditions’. However as you say, they did support the cancellation decision.

Basil Cooper is treasurer of the Littlehampton Bonfire Society, not the ‘Littlehampton Bonfire Society Social Club’.

Please can you clarify that the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service search and rescue unit were called to take down part of the bonfire by the Arun District Council and not our society?

You state the event ‘cost about £25,000 to stage’. Please can you clarify that this is what it would have cost, had we been able to proceed with the celebrations.

It is too early to estimate the cost of the cancelled event and although, as stated in the press release, there are ‘very significant costs which we will still have to meet in spite of it not going ahead’, we are very grateful to businesses and organisations that have greatly reduced and even waived their charges following the cancellation.

You state ‘last year’s event raised about £9,200’. The street collection at last year’s event was, in fact, £8,523.

Richard Cooper

Secretary of Littlehampton Bonfire Society