Council-run bonfire night and Christmas lights events in Derbyshire Dales face being cancelled

Thousands of residents across Derby and Derbyshire gather each year to attend local Christmas lights switch-on events, often accompanied by food and drink stalls.

Alongside this, many councils, whether at a city, district, town or parish level, also hold fireworks displays and bonfire night gatherings during October and November.

As of Monday, September 14, central government put a ban on gatherings of more than six people due to the risk of spreading Covid-19, with some exemptions for weddings, workplaces and schools.

This makes gatherings for events like the illuminations, fireworks and Christmas light switch-ons illegal, if the policy remains in force during the times the events are typically held.

A spokesman for Derbyshire Dales District Council, said decisions on whether bonfire night or Christmas lights switch-on events would take place would be down to whichever town or parish council was organising the event.

The spokesman said: “We don’t operate any Christmas lights switch-ons – these are generally organised by individual town and parish councils.

“If the planned event is on land we own then yes, we would need to approve, but not if the land isn’t in our ownership.”

One major event that has already been cancelled this year is the annual Matlock Bath illuminations.

The event, which dates back to 1897, is one of the highlights of the year in the town, but the potential threat to public health left the council with little choice.

It is a huge blow for the town after last year’s event was also cancelled due to the dangerous levels of the River Derwent and flooding caused by stormy weather.

The council spokesman continued: “While some elements of the coronavirus lockdown are being eased, Government has made it clear that a future tightening of lockdown measures may be necessary, so no-one knows what the situation is going to look like this autumn.

“This is a key planning period for us, when we traditionally contract all the various businesses and organisations that contribute to the event, and what all of them need right now is certainty.

“In the current circumstances, we can’t offer that assurance and we have a responsibility to all those contractors – particularly those that have other options for September and October – to do the right thing.”

“This will be sad news for the tens of thousands of visitors who attend the Illuminations every year and to local traders whose tourist season is extended thanks to an event that dates back to 1897.

“We are disappointed for all our own staff who contribute to this fabulous event every year and for the Matlock Bath Boat Builders’ Association, whose fantastic floating models are the centrepiece of every illuminations.”