Fireworks

Summary

The request sought correspondence between the Department of Infrastructure and Douglas Borough Council regarding the cancellation of the November 5, 2021, firework display. The authority disclosed all information, revealing that the event was cancelled due to delays in promenade refurbishment works, though the Remembrance Sunday service proceeded.

Key Facts

• The firework display planned for November 5, 2021, was cancelled by Douglas Borough Council.
• The cancellation was caused by delays to the promenade refurbishment works.
• The Remembrance Sunday Service was confirmed to go ahead despite the fireworks cancellation.
• The parade route was being revised to accommodate contractors ensuring space around the War Memorial.
• The fireworks were intended to be fired from the beach using a compound on the Promenade Walkway.

Data Disclosed

• 2021-10-21
• 2021-11-10
• 5th November
• 26th September
• 4 week
• 30m x 2.5m
• 21 pages
• 4 documents

Original Request

I seek the publication of all correspondence between the DoI and Douglas Borough Council in relation to the now cancelled firework display on November 5 2021.

Data Tables (28)

Full Response Text

Appendix 1 1 From: Sent: 21 October 2021 11:28 To: ; Podmore, Keith; Subject: FW: Fireworks Cancellation From:     Sent: 21 October 2021 11:06  To:     Subject: Fireworks Cancellation  Good Morning     Following on from our meeting on Monday I email to advise that the Council has decided to cancel the Fireworks  Display planned for 5th November as a result of the delay to the promenade refurbishment works.   Just so as you are aware, a press release is due to go out later this morning.   As discussed the Remembrance Sunday Service will be going ahead and we will be looking at ways to revise the  parade route based on the contractors assurance that some extra space will be made around the War Memorial.   Kind regards,    

Douglas Borough Council Town Hall, PO Box 2, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1AD
e-mail - Phone - www.douglas.gov.im Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram Consider the environment: please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to. This email and its attachments may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Douglas Borough Council. If you are not the intended recipient of this email and its attachments, you must take no action based upon them, nor must you copy or show them to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error. Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Re d Redacte d Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 07 October 2021 14:45 To: Subject: Compound for Fireworks Attachments: Fireworks Compound.pdf Hi     As discussed earlier, I hadn’t enough time to get an official drawing but hopefully you can make out where we need  it from the attached hand drawing.   I have circled the proposed compound the box shows where the container will go we have actually drawn this on  the wrong side we want the trailer parked the war memorial side of the entrance to the Broadway slip if that’s ok?   As this year’s Fireworks Display will be fired from the beach we will require a compound on the Promenade  Walkway for the fireworks provider to complete their set‐up, the fireworks are then put out onto the beach as the  tide recedes.   The dimensions for the compound area that we will need are 30m x 2.5m, this will be to accommodate the  container and trailer containing the fireworks and an area beside that to get the fireworks out and safely onto the  beach. I would be grateful if you could please confirm that this area will be clear in time for the event and also  whether the vehicle will be able to gain access onto the walkway from the area of the War Memorial (will there be  dropped curbs?) if not, perhaps we may need to look at bringing it on from the Sea Terminal end.   Kind regards,         Douglas Borough Council  Town Hall, PO Box 2, Douglas, Isle of Man  IM99 1AD   e‐mail ‐    Phone ‐ +    www.douglas.gov.im  Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram  Consider the environment: please don't print this e‐mail unless you really need to.  This email and its attachments may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is  addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of  Douglas Borough Council. If you are not the intended recipient of this email and its attachments, you must take no  action based upon them, nor must you copy or show them to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you  have received this email in error.  Redacted Redacted Red t Redacte d Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Davis, Paul Sent: 11 August 2021 15:59 To: Subject: RE: Fireworks event DBC Okay, thanks. Paul Paul Davis l Regulations Manager  Highway Services l Department of Infrastructure  Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF   l Website: www.gov.im/infrastructure l www.reportaproblem.im Please visit us on:  Please consider the environment – only print this e-mail if absolutely necessary.  From:

Sent: 11 August 2021 15:55 To: (DOI); Davis, Paul Subject: RE: Fireworks event DBC H  and Paul,  We should be complete by early November.  Paul – regarding food stalls etc on the walkway – this will not cause any issues either.   Kind regards,          Douglas Promenade Refurbishment Scheme   Sea Terminal Building   Douglas  IM1 2RF  Email:    For all enquiries relating to works please email myprom@gov.im   Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Red t Red t Redacted Redacted Redacted 2   https://myprom.im/  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  From: (DOI)
Sent: 03 August 2021 15:32 To:

Subject: Fireworks event DBC Good afternoon     (DBC) rang asking what the Promenade situation would be, particularly at the War  Memorial, on Friday 5th November for the DBC Firework event. They had been looking at the website but  wanted to confirm.   is standing in for   who is on maternity leave. I think we have met with    previously.  I explained the end date is 26th September and there is a 4 week defect period after that but you would  email her to confirm this.   Contact details    Kind regards        Douglas Promenade Refurbishment Scheme   Sea Terminal Building   Douglas  IM1 2RF  Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacte d Redacte d Redacted Red acte Redacted Redacted Reda cted 3 Email   For all enquiries relating to works please email myprom@gov.im     https://myprom.im/  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Redacted Redacted

Appendix 2 1

   Douglas Promenade Refurbishment Scheme Prom Comms Meeting

Date
Monday 25th October 2021
Time 10.00am Location DPR Meeting Room

Attendees

Gary Saunders, Construction Manager, DoI (GS) Project Liaison Administrative Officer, DoI ) , Public Liaison Officer, DoI ( ) Apologies , Business Liaison Officer, DoI ( ) Keith Podmore, Project Manager, DoI (KP)
Item Action Points (or discussion) this Meeting Action 1. Matters arising.

1. Update on Project.

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1. Public Liaison

DBC issued a statement last week blaming the Promenade works for the cancellation of this year’s Fireworks. This followed a recent meeting with DBC but also a lot of communication working with DBC over all events. A statement was released by Government stating the cancelled event was not due to the Prom works. Full access will be available at the War Memorial for Armistice and Remembrance Day services. DBC are content with these arrangements.

1. Any Other Business

There being no other business, the meeting concluded.

Circulation; all attendees/apologies.

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   Douglas Promenade Refurbishment Scheme Prom Comms Meeting

Date
Monday 23 August 2021
Time 10.00am Location DPR Meeting Room

Attendees Apologies Gary Saunders, Construction Manager, DoI (GS) Keith Podmore, Project Manager, DoI (KP)
, Business Liaison Officer, DoI ( ) , Public Liaison Officer-CO, DoI ( ) , Project Liaison Administrative Officer, DoI ( )

Item Action Points (or discussion) this Meeting Action 1. Matters arising:

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Closed. MD informed DBC that Loch and Queens Promenades will be completed in time for the Fireworks display on 05/11. A small area of working will still be in place.

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1. Update on Project by GS.

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1. Public Liaison

2. Events

3. Any Other Business

There being no other business, the meeting concluded.

Circulation; all attendees/apologies.

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   Douglas Promenade Refurbishment Scheme Prom Comms Meeting

Date
Monday 16 August 2021
Time 10.00am Location DPR Meeting Room

Attendees Teams Gary Saunders, Construction Manager, DoI (GS) , Executive Assistant, MU (

Public Liaison Officer-CO, DoI ( ) Apologies , Project Liaison Administrative Officer, DoI ) Keith Podmore, Project Manager, DoI (KP)

, Business Liaison Officer, DoI ( ) Item Action Points (or discussion) this Meeting Action 1. Matters arising:

.

Redacted Re d Redacted Re d Redacted Re d Redacted Re Re Re d Re d Redacte d Re d Re da Re da Re dac Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted 2

1. Update on Project by GS.

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1. Public Liaison

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1. Events

The Fireworks display on 5th November can go ahead as planned. Loch and Queens Promenade will be completed. The area round Castle Mona Avenue/rail corridor will be a work site.

1. Road closures/ temporary TM plans

2. Any Other Business

There being no other business, the meeting concluded.

Circulation; all attendees/apologies.

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Appendix 3 Notes from meeting held with DBC regarding Firework display and access along Douglas Promenade on Monday 18 October 2021 3.30pm
Attendees:
, (DBC), (DBC), (DBC)

(Auldyn), (DBC)
Meeting was held on site at the war memorial, to discuss both the Firework display to be held on the 5th November and the Armistice services on the 11th and 14th November 2021 gave an account of the area and reaming work required to be completed, unfortunately the installation of services along the seaward side opposite the Villa Marina Gardens would not be completed for the 5 but would be completed by the 10 November, this work once complete would open up the area allowing a large congregation of people to gather for the two memorial services.
It was asked by if the area could be cleared earlier but due to the outstanding work and storage of materials it could not be.
asked & if the fireworks display could be moved further along the promenade towards the Palace Hotel area. This being the area used previously for other events and will be completed prior to 5th November. explained they could not move the Music licence from Harris Prom. asked the need to have music and explained the fireworks are set to music.
asked why people cannot watch from the landside of Harris Prom and look up to the fireworks, explained a portion of the fireworks display is at ground level and people would not see them due to the heras fencing surrounding seaside works compound.
mentioned she would be advising DBC not to go ahead with the display for the reasons above. Conclusion:
Thought it was strange the display could not take place due to music as the majority of people watching fill the entire length of the prom and include Douglas and Onchan Head where the music would not be heard, also the ground level section of the display would also be difficult to see unless pressed up close to the railings. And those further away would possibly not see this either?
The Beach motorcycle race held earlier in the year was a great success and took place opposite the Palace Hotel.

18 October 2021 Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Re d Re da Re da R ed R ed R ed Re da R d Re dR d R d Re d Redacted Call log of conversations between ( ), Project Liaison Officer, Douglas Promenade Refurbishment Scheme (MyProm) and ( ), Douglas Borough Council. 12:01 15 09 2021 11:39 7 10 2021
14:40 7 10 2021
12:06 12 10 2021 12.29 13 10 2021* Summary of telephone calls: Seeking confirmation of access via the bottom of Broadway slipway for access for vehicles to launch fireworks 05 05 2021 and around the War Memorial for Armistice Day services 11 11 2021 and 14 11 2021
Following discussions with contractor confirmation that Palace slipway could be used on 5 11 and 14 11 around the War Memorial would be clear. Broadway slipway would not be available.
Fireworks: MyProm team confirmed on numerous occasions that access is fully achievable via The Palace Hotel slipway for the beach launch vehicles.
As southbound lane and parking is off the walkway – full use of this area for spectators will be possible plus everywhere else along Douglas Promenade (with exception of small area by War Memorial). Armistice Day services: War Memorial area will be clear for both events. ** spoke to to request an on-site meeting at the War Memorial – this was set up for 3.30pm on Monday 18 10 2021.

25 10 2021 Redacted Re dac Redacted Re da Re da Re da Redacted

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team/AD/RH Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 2048033 10 November 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 21 October 2021 and which states:

"I seek the publication of all correspondence between the DoI and Douglas Borough Council in relation to the now cancelled firework display on November 5 2021."

Our response to your request is as follows: Please see Appendix 1 containing all email correspondence from the DOI regarding the fireworks display in Douglas. Please see Appendix 2 containing MyProm communication meeting notes on the firework display in Douglas. Please see Appendix 3 containing other documents regarding the firework display in Douglas. Please quote the refer

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