Compleat Angler hotel manager left furious after £9k NYE fireworks cancelled

Erick Kervao, general manager at the Compleat Angler believes it is "ridiculous" that he is unable to hold a New Year's Eve firework display.

Authorities are worried that Marlow Bridge is too weak to hold the number of people that the event would attract.

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However, locals have slammed this and have questioned the reasoning behind the cancellation.

Erick Kervao, general manager at the hotel, said: "I am really questioning that too and I have with them.

"Yesterday, there were 13 cars and vans at once which is way over 10 tonnes!

"I am extremely disappointed with this situation and was happy to spend £9k on the firework for everyone.

"I find it ridiculous."

Marlow Bridge

One local added: "What a load of rubbish!

"The amount of traffic the bridge has over it, and the odd 40-tonne lorry, I doubt enough people could cause a concern.

"They could limit how many people go on the bridge, or even sell VIP bridge tickets for charity and police it.

"Poor excuse."

This comes after the local police superintendent witnessed the bridge “swaying” during the last firework display in 2018.

Andrew Henderson said: "How ridiculous when there is no engineering evidence of a problem.

"What qualifications has the local police superintendent got in bridge engineering, testing and assessment.

"There have been numerous engineering tests on this bridge in recent years.

"Has anyone asked an expert?"

It was agreed that the display would not be held in 2019 after the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM), who are responsible for the Safety Advisory Group on the river and the licensing of the hotel, approached the local management with the worries the bridge could not support the crowd.

The coronavirus pandemic then halted any plans in 2020 but Thames Valley Police have now warned the hotel if they plan to host the fireworks this year it risks “members of the public falling into the river.”

The hotel believes that the council “delayed talking” to them so any formal event plan would be “highly unlikely” to be cleared in time for the event. 

However, Cllr David Cannon, cabinet member for public protection, said: “While this is a private, for hotel guests event, in previous years it has attracted a large number of members of the public who gather on the Buckinghamshire bank of the river and on Marlow Bridge – a designated weak bridge with a weight limit – to watch the display, causing serious safety concerns for multiple authorities.

“Public health and safety is the top priority in the running of any event. 

“Following our multi-agency Safety Advisory Group meeting in September, we asked the hotel to produce and submit an event safety plan in advance to consider and address these safety issues and the wider impact of the event, but have yet to receive this.”