Fireworks over Tamba's 3 day "Disney-style" display

Wednesday 26 October 2016

Tamba Park's owner might be hoping his big plans for a three-day spectacular to celebrate Bonfire night go with a bang this weekend but they are already causing fireworks with the neighbours.

Pet owners have been objecting to Jonathan Ruff's fireworks spectacular being staged this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, saying it's too much for the animals and wildlife living nearby while supporters say the row over it on social media is turning into a "witch hunt" in the run up to Halloween.

Mr Ruff wants to put on a show never seen before in Jersey, one he says you'd expect to see at Disney or Alton Towers with fireworks, water projection and lasers. 

He said: "Last year we had 25 minutes of category 10 fireworks including BIG BIG bangs and I appreciate it did not go down well with the neighbours.

"So this year we have gone for spectacle over scary, producing a unique show never seen before in Jersey with special effects, water projection and fireworks complimenting rather than overshadowing the event with excessive noise.

"This year we have invested £22,000 pounds in the show (nearly three times as much as last year) to make it as high quality as possible, in actual fact enabling us to reduce the firework element but still put on a display that surpasses last years."

Mr Ruff has offered to pay to move any horses grazing or stabled nearby but retired vet Iain Macleod has written to the paper saying there isn't enough stabling for them all and is worried too about the effect the shows will have on local wildlife like our barn owls.

Horse owners have been arguing on social media that moving their animals will also stress them out but are more worried that horses can and do die after getting themselves in a panic over firework displays.

In a response to Mr Ruff's Facebook posting outlining his plans for the weekend, one user says there's no need to have the displays over three days and that "animal welfare is more important than making excessive money on entertainment."

Mr Ruff hopes to see a thousand people each night enjoying the weekend's show that he says this year features seven minutes of controlled fireworks.

He says he's sat down with the Bailiff's panel and worked with the States Vet ahead of the weekend to make sure his own animals at the park are safe and came up with the offer to pay for others to move theirs, if they still had concerns.