Battle of Flowers fireworks

​Request 864514989​

I request recorded information concerning the proposed fireworks display forming the finale of the 2026 Jersey Battle of Flowers.

This request follows public reporting on 6 August 2026 that Jersey Fire and Rescue Service advised that fireworks displays should not take place because of the prolonged dry spell, while the Battle organiser intends that the display should proceed.

Please provide:

1. The Fire and Rescue Service’s written advice, recommendation, objection, risk assessment or other recorded position concerning the Battle of Flowers 2026 fireworks display.

2. Any record of oral advice, including file notes, meeting notes, emails, messages or briefings recording what was communicated, when, by whom and to whom.

3. All recorded communications from 1 July 2026 to the date of this request between relevant public authorities, the Public Entertainment Panel, Bailiff’s Chambers, the Battle organiser and the fireworks contractor concerning:

• the prolonged dry spell;
• fire risk;
• whether the display should proceed;
• additional mitigation;
• permit conditions;
• suspension, cancellation or review.

4. The current public entertainment permit and all conditions, amendments, supplementary requirements and recorded reviews relevant to the fireworks display.

5. Minutes, notes, recommendations, decision logs, action records and recorded reasons showing how the Fire Service advice was considered and the basis on which the display was permitted or expected to proceed.

6. The event-plan and risk-assessment material addressing:

• dry vegetation and surrounding combustible material;
• fireworks fallout;
• exclusion zones;
• wind and weather limits;
• abort criteria;
• firefighting resources;
• water supply;
• emergency response;
  
• post-display inspection.

7. Any risk assessment or method statement supplied by the fireworks contractor concerning the 2026 display.

8. Any correspondence with insurers, excluding information whose disclosure would reveal purely commercial pricing, concerning whether the Fire Service advice, dry conditions or decision to proceed affected insurance cover, conditions or approval.

9. Any records held by Economy or another funding or sponsorship function concerning whether Government funding, assistance, grant conditions or operational support were reviewed in light of the Fire Service advice.

10. The name or official role of the person or body responsible for the final decision that the display may proceed, and the recorded basis for that decision.

11. Any recorded final go/no-go process, including who will participate, the criteria applied and when the decision will be made.

Central FOI has confirmed that Health and Care Jersey must be contacted separately for any information it holds in relation to this request. I therefore forward the complete originating request for processing insofar as it seeks information held by Health and Care Jersey / Public Health. Please treat this as a routing submission only; it does not ask HCS to obtain information held solely by another SPA and does not narrow the original request.

Response

Health and Care Jersey’s (HCJ’s) Public Health Directorate has not been involved in any planning, risk assessment, discussions or correspondence regarding these matters, and HCJ does not hold records in scope of the information requested. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.  ​

Article(s) applied

Article 3 Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority