AS a member of the team which organised the Humber Mouth Yacht Club's Bonfire and Fireworks party due to be held on Saturday, November 8, I wish to set the record straight following the report in the Grimsby Telegraph.

A bonfire and fireworks event has been held on the beach, well away from the yacht club and any other buildings, for more than 40 years, and during that time we have never had any injury or complaint.

As in recent years, the police, fire brigade, coastguard and council were informed and a comprehensive risk assessment covering all aspects of safety was in operation.

The Red Cross Ambulance and crew were in attendance as further safety cover.

Well, Mr Waite, we did contact North East Lincolnshire Council to request permission to hold this event and were told by the beach safety staff that they could see no problems whatsoever and they would inform the relevant departments, so we therefore assumed that permission had been granted.

On the afternoon of Friday, November 7, the secretary was told by a member of the environmental division staff that our bonfire event could not go ahead as it would be regarded as fly-tipping and some of the items for the fire could cause toxic fumes.

Despite the secretary's explanations and promises that only suitable material would be burnt, it soon became obvious that a blanket ban on bonfires was the aim of the council.

This was endorsed by the article praising the public for "trouble free celebrations" as no bonfires had been allowed on public land.

Congratulations NELC, yet another tradition bites the dust. I wonder what will happen as Christmas looms. Thank goodness Santa has his reindeer to pull his sleigh and doesn't pollute the atmosphere with petrol fumes, otherwise he would be banned from North East Lincolnshire.

Kay Clegg, Humber Mouth Yacht Club.