Heavy overnight rain on Saturday had made conditions at the site in Wanstead Flats very soggy underfoot and unsuitable particularly for families with young children. With the forecast of more rain during the day, the council took the decision to cancel at the earliest opportunity to prevent people travelling to the display. The cancellation was announced on the newham.com and council websites, on social media and through local media.
Because of the forecast of further rain during the coming week, the council has decided not to re-arrange the display. While the decision is disappointing, safety remains our main concern. We apologise for the cancellation and hope people will understand the reason behind it.
The City of London Corporation, which manages Wanstead Flats, said the condition of the ground set aside for public viewing, which is set away from the Metropolitan Police Olympic Muster Briefing and Deployment Centre renovation site, was deemed a risk to crowd safety.
