Saffie party on hold due to safety fears
EVENT TO MARK 10TH BIRTHDAY OF GIRL KILLED IN ARENA BOMBING MOVED TO NEXT YEAR OVER WORRIES ABOUT ITS ‘HUGE SCALE’
A STAR-STUDDED birthday party for the youngest child killed in the Manchester Arena bombing has been postponed for a year because of safety fears.
Dance group Diversity and Happy Mondays singer Rowetta had been lined up to mark what would have been the tenth birthday of Saffie Rose Roussos at a park near her home in Leyland, Lancashire, on July 4.
But organisers say they have been forced to postponed the event until 2019 because of concerns it had grown so big.
Saffie, aged eight, was one of 22 people killed in a suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert at the arena in May 2017.
Thousands were due at Saffie’s Party In The Park in Worden Park, Leyland – including her parents, Andrew and Lisa Roussos.
On its Facebook page, a charitable organisation in Saffie’s name said South Ribble council had ‘pulled the plug on the event,’ leaving organisers upset and ‘deflated.’
The event was organised by a friend of the Roussos family, Mike Swanson, with help from the local community.
He said: “As the plans for Saffie’s Party In The Park have grown to such a huge scale, we have decided to re-schedule it for next year instead. South Ribble council and Once Upon A Smile are going to work with us and have an input to make it happen.
“I know this is going to be disappointing for the community but we need to put the health and safety of the public first and meet the licensing requirements and we also want to accommodate everyone that would like to come. However, we will make sure it happens for next year and becomes an annual event for Saffie’s birthday.”
One of Saffie’s favourite acts, dance troupe Diversity, who are best known for winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, were confirmed to perform at the event next month, along with singer Rowetta, who has previously recorded and toured with the Happy Mondays.
Mike confirmed he is currently in talks with all the acts set to per- form in attempt to secure them for the 2019 event.
The 39-year-old has also insisted that many local people will still celebrate Saffie’s 10th birthday ‘in true Leyland style.’
It is not yet known if the 2019 event to celebrate Saffie’s birthday will be held in Leyland, but Mike said that more than 30,000 people are expected to attend.