Lewisham Council has bowed to the inevitable and cancelled this year’s Blackheath fireworks display because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The display attracts tens of thousands of people to the heath each November, but has become one of a long list of major events to be axed in the wake of the health emergency.
“We understand that this is disappointing but this event attracts large crowds and the risk of spreading Covid-19 is too great,” a short statement on the Lewisham Council website says.
Other displays have also been scrapped. Bexley borough’s main display, the Welling Round Table charity display in Danson Park, was called off for the first time in 57 years last month; while the Burgess Park display put on by Southwark Council has also been ditched.
The mayor of London’s annual New Year’s Eve display has also been cancelled, with Sadiq Khan telling LBC: “We simply can’t afford to have numbers of people congregating.”
With Covid-19 infections rising fast in London, Khan said in a statement last night that it was likely that “additional measures will soon be required to slow the spread of the virus”.
He added: “I strongly urge all Londoners to be as cautious as possible over this weekend. Please think very carefully about your actions – strictly follow social distancing rules, regularly wash your hands and wear a face covering to help reduce the spread of the virus.”
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