Knapps fireworks display 'could be cancelled for good'

Councillor David Wilson says the annual Kilmacolm event can no longer be held at The Knapps because of trees being planted on the estate.

The depute provost has helped to run the event for the last 15 years and it is hugely popular in the village and with people from further afield.

But he doubts if an alternative event can be arranged elsewhere in the village.

Mr Wilson said: "Kilmacolm Conservatives have organised the bonfire and fireworks, on a break-even basis, at Knapps for 52 years, myself the past 15.

"The estate has now indicated that due to the imminent afforestation of much of Knapps it sends the wrong message that fire is permissible there.

"There will be some land remaining for the Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow agricultural show but there will not be a bonfire and fireworks this year."

Councillor Wilson said he wanted to thank landowner Lord McLay for the use of the land for more than half a century.

He also praised the many volunteers who made the occasion such a success over the decades.

He individualy thanked Lawrie Campbell and his team, the Wilson boys of South Craigmarloch and Dougie Lyle, Sam Johnson, James Baxter and WH Malcolm.

Mr Wilson said: "Increasingly the authorities have made it more difficult to run a private bonfire and fireworks but we were never beaten.

"But we now understand that the estate has every right to extend the forest area at Knapps."

The decision means there will be no organised fireworks display at all in Inverclyde this year.

The main event at Battery Park has already been called off due to a lack of stewards, caused as a result of the COP26 conference being held in Glasgow from the end of this month.