Further details about the temporary closure of some city centre streets for Bradford’s big festive firework display have been released.
The giant firework display takes place at 7pm this Saturday (November 13) to mark the switching on of Bradford’s Christmas lights and the start of the festive shopping and leisure season.
The spectacular show, organised by Bradford Business Improvement District (BID), will start 30 minutes after the big Christmas Lights switch-on.
The 12-minute professional display will be launched from the top of the NCP car park in Hall Ings towards City Park and Health and Safety precautions mean the area in front of the car park must be clear of people and vehicles for a short period before, during and after the event.
The BID, the limited not-for-profit company funded by more than 600 levy-paying businesses and organisations to help promote and develop the city centre, has written to nearby residents explaining the closures and suggesting they might like to take precautions to reduce noise and the possibility of any smoke generated getting into homes temporarily.
In the letter, the BID says there has been extensive publicity in the press and on social media in advance of the display and there is a full event management plan in place and an established Event Safety Team will ensure all is safe and well.
“This has all been cleared by the Public Safety Liaison Group, which oversees events across the district and signs them off as safe to go ahead,” the letter says. “To allow the event to happen safely, there will be a few road closures in place from 6pm to 8pm on the 13th.
“Also, the area directly in front of the NCP (Hall Ings and Norfolk Gardens) will be a ‘sterile area’ for the duration of the firing, which means people will not be able to move around these areas until the display has finished.
“The display will only start once the Safety Officer gives the all-clear. The firing will last for 12 minutes and will be accompanied by music in City Park. People will be able to see this display across the city centre and further afield due to the elevated firing site and the city centre being in a bowl.
“You may wish to choose to keep your windows closed for the 12 minutes of firing and a short time afterwards, until any smoke generated dissipates.
“Due to this, we wanted to give you notice so you are aware of the event and to minimise any inconvenience to you. There will be a number of stewards working the event and they will be on hand for any questions on the
day.
“Our Safety Team will also be out and about in advance of the event to make sure you are all clear on the event safety requirements.”
From 6pm on Saturday, Hall Ings will be closed from the Jacob’s Well roundabout to the junction with Drake Street, opposite The Broadway car park entrance, which will remain open; Bridge Street will be closed from Market Street to Drake Street, as will Norfolk Gardens and Broadway, from Channing Way to Bank Street. Bank Street will be closed from Market Street to Hall Ings and Nelson Street will be closed from Hall Ings to Croft Street.
Road closure signs and diversions will be in place during the same period.
Bradford BID chairman Ian Ward said: “Bradford has been through a tough time over the last couple of years and we really wanted to start this incredibly important festive period with a positive and exciting statement of intent that the city centre is back and open for business!
“We think this safety conscious, professionally-organised fireworks display – combined with the Christmas Lights switch-on event in The Broadway – is a fabulous, fun and thrilling way to welcome back shoppers and leisure-seekers and kick off the Christmas season.
“We know thousands of people are looking forward to this and we hope it will help to give local businesses the boost they need and help them to make Bradford city centre an even better destination experience for everyone!”