THERE will be no big fireworks display in Chippenham this year.

The town’s Rotary Club has pulled the plug on its November display in Monkton Park.

It will be the first time in 40 years that the show will not go on.

The organisers blame costs, the Covid-19 pandemic and the increasing complexity of putting on the event.

Rotary chairman Rick Squires said: “Quite apart from the question mark which must hang over events such as this due to the current Covid-19 crisis, there are the increasing costs of compliance with health and safety requirements.

“Add to that the increasing number of volunteer stewards needed, the extra costs each year of equipment hire and the fireworks themselves, as well as the unpredictability of the weather.

"They have meant that organising the show has become simply too expensive.”

The news has been met with resignation by the town’s mayor Teresa Hutton.

“Obviously, this is a huge disappointment for the town, but not unexpected,” she said.

“But then, in terms of events, the whole year has been a huge disappointment.

“It is a big operation at the best of times to put on with all the rules and regulations, plus all the extra work involved making people safe.

“The year has been a bit of a write off, so let’s hope 2021 will be better.”

The news follows a controversial display last year, in which a neighbouring golf club owner said his clubhouse was in danger of catching fire after burning shards of fireworks landed on the roof on during the display.

Peter Claridge said friends he had left in charge of the premises were so worried that the clubhouse was going to catch fire they remonstrated with the firework organisers.

The Chippenham Rotary Club has been working in the local community for the last 70 years and has organised many other successful fund-raising events over the years, from concerts to golf days, horse rides to jumble sales.

It has raised funds from these “thanks to the support and generosity of local people and businesses.”