Oxford Round Table Submits Application for 2024 Fireworks Display

Oxford’s annual fireworks event in South Park, organised by the Round Table, may return this November after the group submitted an application to Oxford City Council. Following last year’s event, which saw over 20,000 attendees and raised significant funds for local charities, the park experienced damage due to adverse weather and vehicle movement. Remedial work, funded by the Round Table, has recently been completed.

This year’s application is currently undergoing a formal consultation process with key park stakeholders, including the Friends of South Park and the Oxford Preservation Trust. Last month, city council officers met with these groups to discuss how to avoid a repeat of last year’s issues and ensure the park’s protection. Should the event proceed, it will include several significant measures designed to prevent potential damage to South Park.

Proposed changes for the 2024 event include:

• Clear cancellation protocol: The event will be canceled if weather conditions, such as high winds or wet ground, pose a risk to the park.
• Limiting vehicle access: Vehicle movements will be significantly restricted to minimize wear and tear on the grounds.
• Use of temporary roadways: A more robust temporary roadway will be used for essential vehicle movements, offering a better solution than the matting used in previous years.
• Scaled-down fair: The fair will be smaller, with lighter infrastructure to further reduce impact on the park.
• No bonfire: This year’s event will exclude a bonfire to further mitigate ground damage.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Inclusive Economy at Oxford City Council, emphasized the importance of balancing tradition with park preservation. “The annual Round Table fireworks display in South Park is an Oxford tradition that brings pleasure to thousands of people every year. I very much want to see this year’s event go ahead, but it is essential we don’t see any repeat of the damage done to South Park last year. The Council will be reviewing the application carefully to make sure all the necessary precautions are in place to protect the park,” he said.

Oxford Round Table Chairman, Josh Worsfold, added, “Our volunteers have worked hard to make sure all the feedback from last year’s event was heard, and acted upon. Without a doubt, we couldn’t let this staple event of the Oxford calendar disappear, and we’re pleased that our new event plan protects both the fabric of the park, and the event itself, ensuring charities and groups across the county can apply for much-needed funding. This event has raised over £150k in the last three years alone.”

With the revised plan in place, the city hopes to maintain this long-standing tradition while ensuring the preservation of South Park for future community enjoyment.