21 November 2008, 08/265
Guy Fawkes night a safe, sparkling success!
This year’s bonfire night was one of
the safest ones on record for West Lancashire.
For the past few years West Lancashire
District Council’s Street Scene Team has worked in partnership with
the Police and Fire and Rescue to make 5 November a nuisance-free
night for local people.
Each year the agencies agree an action
plan to reduce the number of accidents, injuries and unauthorised
fires - and 2008’s has been the safest yet.
There was a massive reduction in the
number of bonfires and secondary fires and the cleansing response
times have improved dramatically.
In the past, it had sometimes taken
the Council’s Street Scene Team until early December to clear up
all the ashes and debris left from the remains of the bonfires. But
this year the majority were made clean, safe and green within a
week of 5 November.
Due to educational and preventative
work, there were also fewer fires across the district and the
Council removed 43.75 tonnes of material. All the partner agencies
who worked together felt that residents were able to enjoy Guy
Fawkes Night safely with very few nuisance problems.
Cllr Paul Greenall, Portfolio Holder
for Street Scene, said: "It is great to see that by working in
partnership with the Police and Fire and Rescue we have managed to
make this year’s bonfire night one of the safest yet for local
people. This year we have been able to reduce anti social behaviour
and we have managed to clean the district in record time - so good
news all round. And people still enjoyed themselves on the
night!"
Peter Holland, Chief Fire Officer of Lancashire Fire and Rescue
Service, said:"Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service are extremely
grateful to West Lancashire District Council for supporting us in
our Bright Sparx campaign and we commend them for their commitment
to public safety. We would also like to thank Lancashire
Constabulary and other partner agencies for their hard work, which
resulted in a significant reduction in the number of incidents that
we attended in West Lancashire."
Police Partnerships Chief Inspector Debbie Howard added:
"Operation Bright Sparx draws together the principal partner
agencies such as the Police, the Fire and Rescue Service and West
Lancashire District Council and focuses their individual efforts
into a joint initiative to tackle the issues that arise over the
bonfire period. Once again such partnership work has proved to be a
great success."
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