Ribble Valley bonfire ban sparks protest (From This Is Lancashire)

Ribble Valley bonfire ban sparks protest

8:57am Monday 8th October 2012 in News By Jessica Cree, Education reporter

A MARCH will be led through Clitheroe in protest to the town’s annual bonfire being cancelled.

The demonstration has been organised by members of the Save Clitheroe Bonfire group, who will meet at Clitheroe Castle field tomorrow and walk to the council chambers in Church Street in time for the Ribble Valley full council meeting.

Two of the campaigners, Katei Blezard and Lucy Hatherell, will then address councillors.

Mother-of-six Katei said the aim of the protest was to remove the Event Safety Advisory Group, which had placed ‘unreasonable demands’ on the event’s organisers.

The 34-year-old, who lives in Parson Lane, said: “It is going to be a peaceful protest and we are encouraging people to make their views known.

A lot of events, like the scarecrow event, have been cancelled and we don’t want that to happen with the bonfire.

“We don’t disagree with health and safety.

“It has to be in place, but there are ways and means of doing it.”

Around 1,500 people have already joined a Save Clitheroe Bonfire group on Facebook and Katei said she was hoping as many people as possible would join them for the march.

She said: “Banners are welcome but any offensive ones will be removed.

“The police are going to be there to make sure things go as planned.

Katei said the event was also one of her 16-year-old disabled son Kallum’s favour-ite days of the year and that he had benefited directly from money raised at the bonfire. During the council meeting, which starts at 6.30pm, leader of the opposition coun Allan Knox will present a motion about the bonfire and future of ESAG.

Anyone wishing to join the protest should meet at the castle field at 5.45pm.