The Douglas Promenade Refurbishment Scheme team have said they are ‘disappointed’ that Douglas Borough Council has cancelled this year’s fireworks display.

The team within the Department of Infrastructure (DoI) released a statement in which they said they were surprised at the decision to cancel the November 5 Douglas celebrations.

It said: ‘Although the Council’s preferred slipway to access the shore at Broadway is currently unavailable due to ongoing improvement works, an alternative location was identified a little further north, opposite the Palace Hotel, which was recently used for beach racing without any issues.’

Douglas Borough Council explained that the area around the war memorial will ‘not be in a safe condition’ to accommodate the crowds of spectators expected for the annual event that usually sees hundreds of people attend.

The DoI statement continued: ‘Pedestrians would have had ample space from which to watch the display, with only a short section between the War Memorial and Broadway being unavailable.

‘The team has worked hard to assist in the smooth running of a range of events on Douglas’s promenades in recent months, including accommodating thousands of spectators watching the Red Arrows display, the hugely popular Food and Drink Festival at the Villa Marina, and vehicles and visitors at the Festival of Motoring.’

Despite it being said that the war memorial would be unsafe, plans are still going ahead for Armistice Day.

‘While the cancellation of the fireworks is disappointing, the team looks forward to continue planning events alongside Douglas Borough Council, and will now focus on preparing the area of the War Memorial on Harris Promenade ahead of the Armistice Day commemorations.’

This comes after the fireworks display in 2020 scheduled to take place in Douglas was also cancelled.

The cancellation last year was also due to the ongoing regeneration of the promenade and it was hoped the same wouldn’t happen this coming month.

Council leader Claire Wells said: ‘The council has done everything it can to avoid cancelling the event, however it has not been possible to arrive at a solution whereby the fireworks display can safely go ahead.

‘Despite the best efforts on the part of the council we are faced with no option but to make this very difficult decision, which we recognise will come as a big disappointment to so many people, including our long-term sponsor of the event, Celton Manx.’

Fireworks displays in Ramsey, Peel and Port Erin are still to go ahead.

The fireworks at Peel Breakwater will take place on October 29 at 7:30pm.

Meanwhile, the fireworks display at Ramsey Mooragh Park and Port Erin beach will happen on Friday, November 5, both starting at 7:30pm.