Durham County Council are holding their Annual Firework Spectacular on Thursday evening.
This years display will take place at the Bishop Auckland Rugby Club, West Mills on the 4th November. The theme is Riverdance and the Chairman of Durham County Council, Cllr Mac Williams, will officially light the bonfire.
The Fun Fair and refreshments will start at 5:30pm and the bonfire is to be lit at 7:00pm. The main fireworks display will start at 7:20pm. Admission is free.
There will be a road closure in place on Newton Cap bank, from Bishop Auckland and Toronto, between 5.00pm and 8.30pm. This will still allow restricted access for public transport and pass holders only.
There will be no public parking on the site however there is FREE parking available from 6.00pm until 9.00pm in the Newgate Centre. Parking charges apply at all other times of the day. The centre will be locked at 9.00pm prompt until Friday morning.
Crackdown on illegal bonfires
A crackdown on illegal bonfires is taking place in County Durham in the run-up to the 5th November.
The two-week campaign was launched at Framwellgate Moor fire station on Monday 25th October, aims to reduce the number of unnecessary call-outs to the fire and rescue service.
Members of the public will be warned of the dangers or unauthorised bonfires on public land and encouraged not to supply materials that could be used for burning. They will also be asked to report any illegal woodpiles so they can be dismantled and removed before being set alight.
The initiative is being organised by Durham County Council and Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service through the Safe Durham Partnership.
Oliver Sherratt, Durham County Council’s head of direct services and chair of the anti-social behaviour group of the Safe Durham Partnership, said: “As well as being a direct danger to the public, deliberate and nuisance fires are a drain on the fire service’s resources and can divert crews from potentially life-threatening work elsewhere.
“Their removal is also costly and time-consuming for the council and, consequently, anyone suspected of building an illegal bonfire on public land could receive an £80 fixed penalty fine for flytipping.
“We would, therefore urge residents not to encourage the building of unauthorised fires and to report any they see to the council. Attending an organised event is a much safer way of celebrating November 5 for everyone.”
Residents will be asked not to provide old furniture or waste materials to youngsters who call at their home, to ensure their wheeled bins are replaced promptly after emptying so they can not be targeted and not to allow waste to build up outside their homes.
The council’s neighbourhood wardens will be working with police and firefighters to identify fires, which will be removed by the authority’s clean and green teams.
They will also be visiting schools to talk about bonfire safety and delivering information leaflets to households in hotspot areas.
To report an illegal bonfire call Durham County Council on 0300 123 7070.