Bridge to stay open
MAGDALEN BRIDGE is to remain open on May morning. The City Council voted on Monday night to allow the traditional celebrations, in spite of a recommendations of police and other members of the May Day Advisory Group that it should be closed for safety reasons.
The decision ends a long-running saga of will-they/won't-they concerning May morning. The May Day Advisory Group, a committee of police, students and other representatives, had recommended last term that the bridge be closed on safety grounds. However the council overrode their recommendations, voting 22-15 not to close it, despite fears that people could be injured at the event.
25, 000 revellers are expected to take part this year, compared to 12, 000 the last time the bridge was open, two years ago. There are concerns for the stability of the bridge, and that people may be injured in the crush of the crowd or risking their lives by jumping from the bridge into the river.
The vote has attracted a barrage of criticism for ignoring the May Day Advisory Group's recommendations to close the bridge. The Council itself had appointed the Group to assess the safety of the event. The head of Oxford police, Cressida Dick said, "We are very surprised that the city council has made the decision not to close Magdalen Bridge on May 1. This goes against all the professional advice of organisations in the city who are responsible for ensuring public safety."
Audrey Bell, of the Ambulance Service, also expressed surprise, but promised, "We will put a contingency plan into place to ensure we are there for people who are potentially injured."
OUSU Vice-President (Welfare) Matt Edwards, who had sat on the Advisory Committee, expressed his dismay at the decision. "I cannot see a way you can keep the bridge open and maintain safety," he said. He said that he had a "gut feeling that it is a political decision as the decision to close the bridge would be unpopular," adding that, "There is a persistent feelings that this is a student celebration. However it is not a student event. It is entirely spontaneous and there are just as many tourists and townies as students."
However the leader of the Labour-run council, John Tanner, defended the decision. Speaking to the Oxford Student he said that, "We feel it is important that people of all ages should enjoy May morning. This is so important that it outweighs police concerns. We are not ignoring the advice given, but life is full of risk and enjoyment is important to a traditional Oxford event.
"I think as politicians we need to take a more balanced view." He stressed how they needed to balance safety with people's enjoyment of the event. Tanner also added that extra measures would be taken, including reinforcing the parapet of the bridge, running buses from the Plain into town and open the Angel and Greyhound Meadow as an overflow. He added that he, "hoped people behave sensibly. Revellers should not throw themselves into the river."In response, Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Jean Fooks said, "There are very real worries that people will get caught up in something from which they cannot escape. This decision is irresponsible."