AN ANNUAL bonfire has been granted a reprieve after plans to stop all future large events on Cronkeyshaw Common were scrapped.
Rochdale Council was considering imposing a total ban on large-scale events on the common – including the bonfire, circuses and fun fairs – in response to deep concerns voiced by residents about the damage left by lorry wheels coupled with a lack of adequate parking.
Councillors on Rochdale’s Township committee voted 10-5 on Wednesday against a total ban on events, however and instead opted to judge individual events and applications on their own merit.
The responsibility for deciding which events will be allowed will lie with the council’s action committee.
Speaking in favour of keeping events, in particular the bonfire, Councillor Elwyn Watkins said: "If we don’t have a centralised council bonfire we will go back to the old way of things and will have far more incidents that will be far more environmentally damaging.
"As far as I know, bonfires have been held there for more than 30 years and not everyone who lives near the bonfire site has lived there for more than 30 years. If you buy a house next to a common, you have to expect that people will use it."
But his views were opposed by Councillor Pat Flynn, who said: "No one here would like to live so close to the generators and vehicles that come with the circus and fun fair. It must be appalling. It’s time it was stopped.
"The fun fairs lower the tone of the town and it’s time we looked for alternatives."
Chairman Councillor William Hobhouse said: "There was already an informal agreement to limit the number of events held on the common every year to three and this will be the assumption in any further discussions."
Sheila Acton, chairwoman of Healey Ward (formerly Syke) Area Forum, said: "Now we need to look at the covenant for the common and see exactly what the terms for its use are.
"We are not trying to stop anyone having events there, it’s just about the damage caused.
"Whenever it is damp and we see the vehicles arrive we know what is going to happen. We will never be able to apply for green flag status because of how badly it gets churned up.
"The people who attend the area forum were expecting all events to be stopped and I think they will be quite shocked to find out this has not gone through township."
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