Oxford is due to celebrate bonfire night without a bonfire after complaints about mud last year. 

The event, organised by Oxford Round Table, left parts of South Park churned up last year after some 20,000 people attended. 

Oxford City Council has issued a permit for the event on Saturday, November 2 after consulting with the Oxford Preservation Trust and the Friends of South Park group. 

This year additional safety measures will be in place to protect the ground at South Park, including the use of the temporary roadway both under the funfair and for vehicle access. 

Tickets are on sale now and can be bought online via oxfordfireworks.co.uk/.

Green Party councillor Alex Powell submitted several questions to the full council meeting on Monday, October 7. He said: “I'm pleased there won't be a bonfire this year.

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South Park last year (Image: Contributed) "A lot of the damage caused was from vehicles moving logs to the fire and some residents complained about the smoke and that the fire was still burning the following morning. The most important thing is that we work together to protect the park.”

In a published response, councillor Alex Hollingsworth said: “Each event will have its own limit, depending on how it is structured and which parts of South Park are used. The limit for the Fireworks Event is 25,000 attendees. 

“By way of contrast, the Radiohead show in South Park in 2001 had an audience of about 40,000, because it used the park in a different configuration.”

Responding to a question about if the event was cancelled, he said: “I am aware of course that there are many members of the public who do not believe that there should not be any Fireworks event in South Park this year or ever again in the future, because of the damage done during last year’s event in particular. 

“I am also aware that there are many thousands of residents across Oxford who would be horrified if the event were cancelled. It is not possible to meet both those conflicting demands. 

“I believe that the much-revised event put forward by the Round Table is a good compromise, with enough mitigations in place to ensure that the event can happen and that South Park is not damaged in the process. 

“I am happy to meet local people to hear their concerns, and to explain what the Round Table are proposing and how the City Council will be working to ensure that the proposed plan is delivered on the ground.”

Joseph Garbett, event director, said: "The event has had to change a little this year, so whilst you might miss the bonfire, the fireworks themselves will be the biggest and best ever to make up for it."