Pitlochry Street Party: Cancellation Explained
21/01/10
There has been a fair bit of adverse comment following the cancellation of the 2010 New Year Street Party, and we want to explain why it was called off, writes Graham Holmes, chairman of the event’s organising committee.
On the Monday prior to the event, one of our principal loyal supporters phoned to ask whether the event would take place. There was local speculation, and he wanted as much notice as possible if we were “pulling the plug”.
At mid-day on the Tuesday the committee met at the site of the party. The temperature was -13 C, and
• the usable part of Atholl Road between piles of snow was very narrow (they had started clearing on West Moulin Road, but not salting the cleared areas which were lethally slippery);
• pavements were covered in frozen snow and very difficult to negotiate;
• the area where our stage was to go was still a foot deep in snow and the large planters - which would have to be moved to get the stage in - were frozen to the ground;
• the diversion route via Bonnethill Road was too narrow to take passing traffic; the area set aside for the mobile toilets was inaccessible;
• the trailer that forms the stage was stranded in Ballinluig with its brakes frozen solid (and mechanics on holiday!);
• the forecast was continuing hard frost and more snow for the next 10 days.
In these circumstances, given our responsibility for safety, the organisers were faced with little option but to call the party off, and the local press and radio station were advised.
This is the first time since the event started in 2000 that cancellation has occurred – and we were not alone. Other New Year events throughout the country were called off – including the Inverness party which was cancelled by the police on safety grounds. It was just our luck that the forecast was wrong, and by New Year temperatures were above freezing – though pavements were still difficult.
Standby Team Formation
The committee has decided that, given the importance that local people and businesses apparently attach to this event, planning for future such events will include a “Plan B” for a scaled down party of some sort – perhaps with music relayed from indoors - in case the need to cancel for similar reasons arises again.
A few more people have agreed to join the organising committee, and what we would now like to do is to set up a “standby team” of volunteers who would respond to an appeal for man/womanpower if we need to clear snow or assist with the party on the day.
Anyone who would be willing to help in this way is asked to call Graham Holmes on 01796 473153 or e-mail graham@holmeshome.plus.com.
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