Council opposes return of Bideford bridge New Year’s Eve fireworks

New Year’s Eve fireworks will not be returning to Bideford this year due to the roosting starlings on the old bridge, despite efforts by local businessmen to reinstate the popular climax to the celebrations.

Torridge District Council (TDC) has voted to oppose future firework displays near Long Bridge, reinforcing a ban in 2019 which followed an 8,000 name petition after claims the birds were drowning in the river, smashing into buildings or being trampled under foot.

With the East-the-Water wharves now under private and not council ownership, there had been an attempt to revive the once busy Bideford New Year festivities after local businessman Rob Braddick and others sought to stage a display this year.

Last month a poll on the Bideford Banter Facebook page saw 894 in favour of a display and 117 against.

But a few days later Mr Braddick posted to say although the fireworks had been purchased, the land was no longer available to use ‘due to recent pressure on the landowner from the minority’.

Now following a motion to the council by Appledore councillor Peter Hames, TDC has voted to ‘oppose future fireworks events’.

“I propose this in the context of this council’s ban in 2019 on holding firework displays at the East the Water wharves when they were the property of the council and Bideford Town Council’s decision in the same year to not fund the fireworks and to restrict the level of decibels,” Cllr Hames told a full council meeting.

“These decisions were in response to a petition signed by around 8,000 people expressing their concern about the terrifying effect of fireworks on roosting starlings at the bridge and on other birds – some of these effects being injuries and death resulting from frightened birds hitting hard objects or drowning in the river.”

The 2019 petition, supported at the time by wildlife presenter Chris Packham, was instigated by local resident Robert Durrant who said the displays were ‘cruel and totally unacceptable’.

Mr Durrant addressed the meeting and asked the council to express its ‘vehement disapproval’ of all activities along the river which were likely to cause environmental harm.

“We have lost so much,” he said. “Our environment is tragically and hideously impoverished. Torridge has recently begun some small steps to counter the trend but I urge you to find whatever more can be done to reverse such losses.”

The debate ran for several days on the Bideford Facebook page and divided opinion, with the majority of posters in favour of seeing the fireworks return, but several also opposed the idea because they felt they caused too much harm and distress to wildlife and pets.

But Mr Braddick said he would take his share of the fireworks to Westward Ho! to celebrate New Year’s Eve but also for an event in 2024 to mark the 30th anniversary of the children’s Holiday Foundation.

He added: “It's such a shame that Bideford used to be in the top five places to celebrate New Year's Eve... and now I think you'd be lucky to get in the top 500!

“The minority might have won the battle, but they haven't won the war.”