Saltaire 1940s event organiser slams Bradford Council

Part of Marie McCahery's nostalgic event went ahead at Victoria Hall in Saltaire on Saturday - but 1940s-themed attractions planned for nearby Roberts Park over the weekend were axed, leaving scores of people disappointed and out of pocket.

Marie told the Telegraph & Argus that Bradford Council informed her on Friday morning that the park events - which she said had been planned for a number of months - could not go ahead as there were concerns "something would go wrong".

But she said she had an event management plan which "passed muster" with a risk assessment professional - and she added it had also been approved by park management.

Bradford Council's headquarters (Image: T&A)

The Council told the T&A on Friday that its parks team "had to make the decision not to give permission for the event to go ahead on land in one of its parks" after receiving the "latest advice from the Safety Advisory Group", which is made up of the Council as well as the police, fire and ambulance services.

According to the Council, "all event organisers must ensure that full and comprehensive plans are in place well in advance of their event" so that these can be assessed by the group.

The Council said it realised "how disappointed" people must feel over the situation, adding that such action was "very rare".

A file picture of the sun setting over Roberts Park, which should have been a hive of activity over the weekend (Image: Stuart Moorhouse: T&A Camera Club)

Marie said: "I will never put on an event that has anything to do with Bradford Council again.

"If they had reservations about safety, they could and should have contacted me earlier in the week so I could make any changes to their satisfaction.

"But the way they cancelled it at the last-minute was appalling.

"I've lost hundreds of hours of my life and thousands of pounds trying to put on an event for people to enjoy.

"Marquee and security staff were almost at the park when it was cancelled.

"Many people, coming from far and wide, were already on their way when I found out about the Council's decision, and it was too late to cancel hotel reservations.

"Many food traders and stallholders were also already on their way with their vans full of stock. They have lost a lot of money with stock they can't sell and profits they could have made elsewhere. 

"There's a lot of anger and frustration at how the Council has handled this.

"This does not bode well for events being organised for Bradford 2025.

"Who will want to come from afar to a Bradford event if it might be cancelled at such extremely short notice?"

The T&A put her comments and concerns to Bradford Council.

A Council spokesperson said: "The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) is made up of the Council, police, fire and ambulance services. 

"SAG had been engaging with the event organiser for some time. 

"After having received the latest advice from SAG, Bradford Council parks team had to make the decision not to give permission for the event to go ahead on land in one of its parks. 

"Such action is very rare and the decision is therefore not taken lightly. 

"All event organisers must ensure that full and comprehensive plans are in place well in advance of their event, so that these can be assessed by SAG.

"We realise how disappointed the organiser and people who were planning on visiting the event must feel - however, these plans are there for everyone's safety and include full risk assessments, evidence of adequate public liability insurance, medical assessment forms from Yorkshire Ambulance Service, detailed site plans, command structures, event management plans, including crowd management, and event security plans."

Although attractions planned for Roberts Park could not go ahead, a group of 1940s enthusiasts decided to stage a singing and dancing event of their own around the bandstand.

Julie Fearn, an ex-Bradford resident and author, was due to have a stall as part of the event.

She said: "Like many others who travelled to Saltaire over the weekend for the 1940s event, I was shocked to find out there had been a last-minute cancellation.

"Like many others, I spent time and money preparing for my stall at the event.

"A 100-mile round trip found me at a cancelled event without a stall.

"I was looking forward to the 1940s weekend for many reasons.

"It was well planned in advance, had been signed off by Roberts Park management and would be a wonderful setting for an important cultural event."