The Bradley Stoke Journal

Bradley Stoke’s ever-popular Town Council Fireworks Display takes place this year on Sunday (7th November 2010) at the Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road [map].

As in previous years, entrance to the display is free but there will an entry point collection for St Peter’s Hospice, Mayor Ben Walker’s nominated charity.

Last year’s display was watched by a bumper crowd estimated at between five and six thousand and it raised £4,250 for the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA) and the Bristol Dyslexia Centre.

With the costs of the fireworks borne by the Council, every penny collected at the event goes to charity.

Gates open at 4:30pm with hot food served from 4:45pm. The display itself starts at 6pm.

No alcohol is allowed on site and sparklers are also forbidden.

Visitors are asked to walk to the venue as no car parking will be available at the Jubilee Centre or on neighbouring streets, with the exception of disabled badge holders.

Those arriving by car are advised to park at the Willow Brook Centre (Tesco Extra) [BS32 8EF, map] and walk to the display.

Related links:

• Firework displays in and around Bradley Stoke (2010)
• Photos from the 2009 Bradley Stoke Fireworks Display

Bradley Stoke Town Council’s 7th annual firework display has been hailed a tremendous success by both organisers and residents after record crowds braved the cold to watch the event at the Jubilee Centre on Sunday.

Official estimates put the attendance at between five and six thousand and organisers confirmed this as a new record for the event.

The 6pm start was delayed by approximately fifteen minutes while marshals ensured everyone was safely accommodated on site.

No formal admission was charged for the event but entry point collections raised £4,250 (over twice the amount raised last year), every penny of which goes to charity as the display costs are covered by the council.

Cllr Mark Forsyth, Town Mayor (pictured above, centre right), whose chosen charities will benefit from the public donations said:

“We’re really pleased with the turnout and the public have been most generous. I know that BLEMSA and the Bristol Dyslexia Centre will be most grateful.”

More photos on PicasaWeb: album; slideshow

A local resident has called for late night firework sales to be stopped in order to prevent a repeat of a 2008 incident in which alcohol-fueled youths fired rockets at homes in the town.

The resident told the October meeting of the Bradley Stoke Safer and Stronger Group that numerous properties between Baileys Court and Stoke Gifford had been targetted after youths purchased alcohol and fireworks from the Tesco Express store at Baileys Court.

A manager at Tesco Express is said to have told the resident that the shop imposes no restrictions on the hours during which fireworks can be purchased, meaning that sales can continue until the store closes at 11pm.

The resident questioned the need for late night sales of fireworks and called upon the store to change its policy.

Scott Lahive, manager of the Willow Brook Centre, who was also at the meeting, mentioned that sales of fireworks at the centre’s Tesco Extra store cease at 8pm and suggested that something similar could be done at the smaller Tesco stores in the town.

Local police said they would visit the town’s two Tesco Express stores and discuss the matter with managers.

The ever-popular Bradley Stoke Firework Display, organised by Bradley Stoke Town Council, takes place this year on Sunday (8th November) at the Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road. Gates open at 4:30pm with the display starting at 6pm.