Damage repairs to park delayed

TORRENTIAL rain this week has prevented rangers from starting work to repair areas of Christchurch Park which were turned into a quagmire at last weekend's firework display.

TORRENTIAL rain this week has prevented rangers from starting work to repair areas of Christchurch Park which were turned into a quagmire at last weekend's firework display.

Parts of the park suffered serious damage under the feet of 22,000 visitors who turned out in heavy rain to watch the largest firework show in Suffolk.

Borough council officials were due to discuss the damage with the show organisers earlier this week.

But the rain on Monday and Tuesday prevented a detailed inspection of the damage.

Now they are hoping that yesterday's fine weather will allow that to be completed – although it is still too early to say how much it will cost to undertake repairs.

The council is to talk to the organisers of the display, 11th Ipswich Scouts, about paying for repairs to the park – although officials say it is too early to speculate on how much they may have to pay.

"But we will try to keep it as low as possible," said a council spokeswoman. "We are aware that this is a charity event and would not want to take too much from their proceeds."

Saturday's display was the 31st organised by the scouts, and was the first to be accompanied by such torrential rain.

It went ahead despite concerns over the weather – and up to 7,000 visitors actually paid on the night to attend the event.