Burnham-On-Sea’s seafront fireworks display – which was postponed last month due to a tragic death besides the jetty – will not be rescheduled, town councillors decided last night (Tuesday).
The Town Council, which oversees the annual fireworks, announced the postponement of the display as a mark of respect in November.
The display had been due to be held on November 5th, just days after the tragedy when Peter Jeffery, 68, went missing in the sea. A body was later found on Stert Island.
This week, town councillors considered whether to reschedule display to a new potential date in January 2024 – but they unanimously decided not to proceed in order to save funds amid a very stretched budget this coming year.
Cllr Roger Keen said: “I wouldn’t support rearranging the display for January. I propose we leave it until the next fireworks night next November.”
Cllr Peter Clayton added that three dates suggested for the event in January “have no significance” and he too supports holding the next display as normal next November.
The council said it had incurred costs of £5,358 for the postponed event. Rescheduling the display would have incurred additional expenditure of around £4,420.
The decision means that the next seafront fireworks display in Burnham will be held on the Sunday before the 2024 Burnham-On-Sea Carnival.
