Popular Bonfire Night event cancelled again over health and safety costs

A popular Bonfire Night has been cancelled for the second year over health and safety concerns.

Truro City Council said that it could not safely hold the event, which includes a fireworks display, within the available budget.

Up to 5,000 people were expected to attend the event in the Cornish city.

That meant that it had to be considered an “advanced tier” event under Martyn’s Law, which requires certain public events and venues to boost their security preparedness and and ramp up protective measures against terrorist attacks.

The law – named for young Ariana Grande fan Martyn Hett, who was killed in the 2017 attack on Manchester Arena – received Royal Assent in 2025 and is due to come into force in spring 2027.

However, councils are encouraged to act as if it is already in place.

Truro City Council said that it had identified Tremorvah Playing Field as a potential venue for its Bonfire Night, and a committee had worked “extremely hard” all summer to draw up plans that aligned with the safety legislation.

The plans had looked at road closures, ticket entry, crowd management, and “securing support in the case of an emergency situation”, the council said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of everyone involved in the planning, the working group concluded that it would not be possible to stage the event safely within existing budgets and resources, whilst ensuring that it remained affordable for local residents and did not adversely affect people living in and around the Tremorvah Playing Field.”

Truro City Council town clerk David Rodda said: “Truro City Council can only stage events where it is satisfied that it can do so safely and within available budgets.

“Despite our best efforts, it was not possible to do that this year whilst keeping the entry price at an affordable level and whilst ensuring that we meet the necessary requirements of an ‘enhanced tier’ event under Martyn’s Law.”

Mr Rodda said that the council knew the decision would disappoint locals.

“The council ... will continue to investigate options to overcome the challenges faced in organising this year’s event with the aim of staging a safe and affordable event in the future.”