Barrio Fiesta coming back? (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Barrio Fiesta coming back?

8:20am Friday 29th August 2008

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Park officials have said they are “confident” the popular Barrio Fiesta will be rescheduled following disappointment over its cancellation due to safety concerns.

John Laing Integrated Services had refused to grant a licence to organisers at the Philippine Centre because of fears over traffic management and fire safety, leading to the annual event at Lampton Park being scrapped in July.

But a spokesman for the leisure service provider said this week it had been working with the organisers, police and the fire service to draw up an event management plan, and the festival should go ahead at Cranford Park on September 13 and 14.

She said: “We have carried out a risk assessment of all the things that could possibly go wrong at an event that size and what we would put in place should the event happen.

“The first risk assessment was not comprehensive enough and the emergency services felt that certain issues were not addressed.

“The council, the emergency services and John Laing have been working with the Philippino community and the event organisers, having regular meetings and ensuring the management plan is put together effectively.”

She said that the plan will need to be signed by the police and fire service before the fiesta can finally get the go-ahead.

The 24th annual Philippino festival was expected to draw thousands before it was called off at the last minute and disappointed festival goers inundated the Hounslow and Brentford Times website with a flood of complaints.

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