The latest findings come after a review to see what lessons could be learned
The huge bonfire at Ilchester Park was not authorised(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A Merseyside council said staff in some areas ‘felt threatened’ and firms pulled out for fear they would be targeted after tensions flared up over Bonfire Night. Two bonfires were set alight early last year following rumours in the community that the events were being cancelled by the authorities.
Wirral Council faced ‘significant challenges’ when it came to managing community bonfire events in 2025, prompting a review to learn any lessons. The council is still looking to keep a policy in place as it was an overall success but some changes will be needed, according to a report published before a committee meeting on March 5
There was a 62.9% reduction in secondary fires and a 5% decrease in antisocial behaviour across the borough. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: “Wirral demonstrated areas of exceptional practice and the planning undertaken during previous years should remain and be built upon for future years.”
The report suggested similar policies could be rolled out across the region, adding: “The issues are complex and there is no simple solution. Particular challenges arise when an event organiser does not in reality have control of a site or over a local community, as was seen last year particularly.”
However officers said: “The approach, whilst challenging, has built bridges with communities, particularly some which have a long-standing mistrust of authority and previous poor relationship with the council.”
The Woodchurch bonfire later went ahead with permission(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The Bonfire Night policy, which saw the council support a number of community events being organised safely across the borough, was introduced after concerns about the increasing size of bonfires in Wirral.
This ‘raised significant concerns around public safety, anti-social behaviour and environmental impact’ and exposed the council ‘to risk, including potential litigation, financial liabilities and reputational damage’.
There was a 2024 pilot and 2025 was the first year the policy was properly in force. However things did not go according to plan after two bonfires were deemed to be too big.
This caused community tensions and fires on the Woodchurch estate and at Ilchester Park in Birkenhead were ignited two weeks early. After further discussions, the Woodchurch fire was allowed to go ahead while the one at Ilchester happened despite authorities and a local charity pulling out.
While authorities and the North Birkenhead Development Trust (NBDT) tried to support an event going ahead at Ilchester, the council report said the fire was still too big.
The council said they paid for security and fenced the bonfire off but “there were tensions between some community members and the security officers, who were removed from the site having felt threatened”.
As the fire got bigger, the council said the trust ‘had no option other than to withdraw as they did not have control of the site’. However the NBDT based themselves at the nearby St James Church and the council provided some health and safety measures.
In contrast, the report said Woodchurch Connect came forward allowing an event to go ahead with no issues and a smaller bonfire. The only incident was one CCTV camera was damaged beyond repair in an act of vandalism.
Elsewhere in the borough, authorised events at Beechwood, Noctorum, Leasowe, and Seacombe went ahead without incident. Seacombe’s event was considered so successful organiser Scott Lowe has ‘been given in principle permission to host an event in Central Park, Wallasey in 2026’ though this will not include a bonfire.
Wirral Council said: “It is noted with thanks that the professional pyrotechnic company engaged by the organiser provided additional support to other local events, in particular Woodchurch and Ilchester Park Birkenhead, at no cost to help ensure safety.”
The council report also said issues of flytipping and unauthorised bonfires “continued to be problematic” with twice as much removed by the fire service in 2025 compared to the year before. Overall, 91 tonnes of flytipped waste was removed.
Officers also said local companies refused to help clear two bonfires “for fear of retaliation”. One local firm, despite providing “invaluable” help in 2025, is unlikely to do so again for this reason.
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