Town fireworks display cancelled (From Andover Advertiser)

Town fireworks display cancelled

9:13am Thursday 8th October 2009 in News By Dick Bellringer

THE Andover Advertiser can confirm that Andover Round Table has been forced to cancel this year’s fireworks display despite desperate attempts to keep it going.

In the wake of premature speculation following the decision by Andover Rotary Club to pull out of running the event with the Round Table, which made the Thruxton site financially unviable, the organising committee explored various options.

The initial aim was to bring the event back into the town and significant talks had been held concerning one particular site.

These talks looked promising but after many weeks of deliberation and meetings, the final decision was that the Rotary club could not support the event.

The committee explored various alternative venues and there was some hope initially that a successful solution would be found.

With time rapidly becoming a major problem, a final option was considered by the committee. However, this too has been rejected by the proposed venue.

Fireworks committee chairman Vik Vallabh said: “It is disappointing that the effort expended by the team has been fruitless, but we have been presented with little choice than to cancel the event.

“There have been simply too many hurdles presented to us this year and each of them has cost us dearly, in respect of time. I would like to thank those who worked so hard to try to put the event on, including Anton Rotary who had decided to join forces with the Round Table this year. We all hope that we are able to put on a fantastic show in 2010.”

Andover Round Table Chairman Nigel Baxendale added: “I have personally been involved with the display in Andover for over 15 years and it is very sad that we will not be able to put it on this year.

“We hope that the people of Andover will recognise that the decision has not been taken lightly and that we remain committed to providing such events in the future.”