Town centre fireworks display among winter events cancelled due to Covid

Caerphilly town centre’s annual fireworks display, Christmas lights switch-on and lantern parade will not go ahead this year due to uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic.

It means the events will have been cancelled for two consecutive years, with the pandemic preventing them from going ahead last year.

The decision was made by councillors on Caerphilly Town Council at a meeting held on Monday, July 19.

In a report which was discussed by town councillors, town council clerk Phil Davy said: “The easing of restrictions at this point would suggest that the events in November could in principle go ahead, but the legal requirements, the practical issues, uncertainty of the coronavirus risk in November, risk to public money, risk to public health and the inability to satisfactorily mitigate the risks would all lead to the view that the most prudent decision is not to proceed with the events in 2021.”

Town councillor Colin Elsbury, who is also a county borough councillor for the St Martin’s ward, said it would be irresponsible for the town council to press ahead with the plans due to rising coronavirus rates across Wales.

The money the town council would have spent on the events will now be spent on other community projects, with suggestions from councillors and residents welcomed.

Suggestions can be submitted to the town council’s Deputy Mayor Huw Jackson on Huwjackson.ctc35@outlook.com  or town council clerk Phil Davy on caerphillytowncouncil@outlook.com