Christmas event cancelled over safety concerns for 'unsuitable' venue

PLANS for a fundraising Christmas festival in Lymington have been cancelled over health-and-safety concerns.

The newly-formed Buckland Residents Association had envisaged a lantern parade making its way to Lymington Meadows, off Lower Buckland Road, where there would be food, drink and activities.

The event was hoped to be held on 13th December but has now been called off after town councillors voted at a meeting against granting permission for the use of its land.

Concerns included the ground being too boggy in the winter for people and vehicles, poor lighting and a failure to submit key documentation for aspects of the event.

A report added that damage to the ground would also be costly to repair and suggested rearranging the event for the summer.

Cllr Jacqui England lamented the lack of events in Buckland and said it could be held instead on the town hall car park.

Cllr James Hoare said: “I agree the venue is unsuitable for an event of this nature in December.”

Town mayor Cllr Anne Corbridge concluded: “None of us underestimate the effort that’s gone into this, and it’s not the outcome we would have wanted.”

Co-organiser Jacqui Head told the A&T after the meeting that the celebration would have raised money for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, the coastguard and local Scouts.

She was “devastated” by the decision and disagreed with the council’s concerns. A summer event would not be held instead, she said.