Witney News - New guide to support event organisers

New guide to support event organisers

Local authorities and emergency services have joined forces to produce a guide with information for public event organisers in Oxfordshire.

The guide aims to support organisers and contains practical advice on issues such as safety, licensing and traffic management.

With information on planning and running events, who to speak to about holding an event and useful contact details, it brings together all the information needed by anyone looking to run an event in Oxfordshire.

The ‘Practical Guidance to Support Event Organisers’ has been produced by West Oxfordshire District Council on behalf of the county’s four other district councils, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, South Central Ambulance Service and Thames Valley Police.

Each district has a Safety Advisory Group (SAG), made up of relevant local authorities and emergency services, which work to ensure public safety at events. District councils are also responsible for licensing some events.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of West Oxfordshire District Council’s Licensing Committee, which considers applications for some events, said: “This is the first time there has been one guide for use across Oxfordshire and the idea is that this should make it easier for event organisers. The guidance is particularly aimed at organisers of smaller events, involving less than 5,000 people, such as fetes and fundraising initiatives. We appreciate that there are many volunteers who organise events like this to help their local communities and good causes, and we hope that this guide will support them.”

Over 2,000 public events are licensed in Oxfordshire every year, attended by thousands of people, with further smaller events taking place across the county.

Chief Supt Brendan O’Dowda, Thames Valley Police’s Oxfordshire Commander, said: “There are many reasons why organisers should seek advice early on in the planning stage of their event. Public safety needs to be a top priority and organisers should always notify the relevant authorities in advance of an event taking place. This guide includes a form for people to do this, along with advice that will help to promote safe events in our county.”

Dave Etheridge, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Organising an event can be a daunting task and it is important that everything is taken into consideration, so we are very pleased that there is now one guide for the whole of Oxfordshire. This will be available to download online so event organisers will have this at their fingertips, along with contact details should they require any further information.”

The guide is available to download at www.westoxon.gov.uk/events and will also be added to each of the other district council websites, along with Oxfordshire County Council, South Central Ambulance Service and Thames Valley Police websites.

Alternatively, event organisers can contact their local SAG for further information:

Cherwell: 01295 252535
Oxford: 01865 249811
South: 01491 823000
Vale of White Horse: 01235 520202
West Oxfordshire: 01993 861000