August 2, 2017

It is with regret that we must announce the Kings Heath Street Festival 2017 is cancelled.

 

This decision has been reached after seeking expert advice from the following parties: Birmingham City Council Events Team; West Midlands Fire Service; West Midlands Police; Representative from Traffix (Temporary Traffic and Event Management company); Birmingham City Council Licensing & Planning team; our private security company and local businesses.

They have said that we need a hostile vehicle mitigation plan, extra security and stewards, bag searches and fencing off of the event space to ensure controlled pedestrian access points

 

In addition to the above, a member of the Kings Heath Board and the Town Centre Manager attended a preliminary SAG meeting to seek further assistance. The Town Centre manager also attended several meetings with Kings Heath businesses and gathered quotes for additional contractors, such as; SIA security, stewards, drive on stages, Hasset double gated fences, Hasset fencing for the perimeter, working with Traffix to create diversions and install a hostile vehicle mitigation plan.

Our Chair and Town Centre manager attended a meeting with West Midlands Fire Service where it was explained that a 4 metre wide exclusion zone was required through the entire length of the event space, so as to allow access for emergency vehicles.

 

Also, a 7 metre wide gap was required at the end of the road, so as to allow a safe evacuation in the event of an emergency, as laid by guidance laid out by Birmingham City Event team.

 

The Kings Heath Street Festival must comply with these new regulations and legislation that has been put in place for compliance by all those planning an open air event. As has been demonstrated by other organizations, having to cancel similar events; the measures now required to be put in place make it impossible to reproduce the events that we have previously held,  

 

We hope to revisit the Kings Heath Street Festival in 2018 with a new layout which complies with legislation, to ensure this much-loved event returns to the area, for a celebration of all things Kings Heath and we thank everyone who has helped the Kings Heath BID events team from the emergency services and Birmingham City Council.

 

Chris ONeill
Chair of Kings Heath BID Board of Directors