“It was impossible to plan” - Magdalen Street Celebration 2017 cancelled

Street celebrations will not be held at Magdalen Street this year as organisers of the event have cancelled their plans after seven consecutive years.

Magdalen Street Celebrations 2016. Lee Vassey and his band entertaining the crowd. Picture: ANTONY KELLY - Credit: Archant

The Magdalen Street Celebration has been held in and around the flyover and Anglia Square since 2010, but with preparatory work underway for redevelopment of the square, and county council highways teams working around the flyover, the committee said it was 'too uncertain' to begin planning.

A date had been fixed for October 14, but treasurer of the Magdalen Street Celebration Committee, Stuart McLaren, said: 'It became clear over the last couple of months that it is going to be very, very difficult to stage it this year.

'If we can't rely on the fact it is going to be open and available to us in October we had no certainty and it was impossible to plan.'

A statement from the committee said: 'Regrettably, due to a combination of circumstances beyond our control we have concluded it will not be possible to run a safe and successful event this year.

'At this point in time, the availability and accessibility of our two main stage areas cannot be guaranteed with the certainty essential to plan such a large public event. It is hoped next year we shall be in a better position to plan ahead with confidence.'

The committee are looking for volunteers who would be willing to help plan the celebration next year. Visit the Magdalen Street Celebration Facebook page to contact them.