A BIG screen showing Euro 2020 games on Weymouth harbourside's has been cancelled for the rest of the tournament due to social distancing concerns - and businesses have blasted the decision to give the event the green light in the first place.

On Sunday, a large crowd of revellers packed into a football fan zone on Custom House Quay to roar on England as they beat Croatia in the opening game of their Euro 2020 campaign.

But organisers have cancelled future games being shown on the 10ft x 8ft outdoor screen due to a lack of social distancing after fans were seen embracing, while not wearing face masks.

The screen on the Town Bridge was organised by the Rendezvous which said 'a small minority of customers' failed to maintain social distancing requirements'.

Locals are wondering why a decision was made in the first place to give the event the go-ahead.

David Lodge runs Tika Bar, in Maiden Street, near to the harbourside.

He said: "It begs the question why the council gave the event the go ahead.

"I've been told I can't have more tables outside my business, but hundreds of people were allowed to gather on the harbour without masks on - it's a real kick in the teeth."

Keith Foose, who runs Naughty Forks Desserts and Hardy's Hophouse, both in St Thomas Street, said fingers need to be pointed at Dorset Council.

He said: "The team at Rendezvous have done nothing wrong. They went through the proper checks with the council.

"If the council didn't want the event to go ahead then they should have said so.

"If the council said I could have an extra 40 seats outside Hophouse, I'd do it."

Eve Smyth, assistant manager of Boho Gelato, on the corner of Custom House, said the atmosphere on Sunday was 'great', but staff had to clear a lot of rubbish after the game.

She said: "It was a great atmosphere and it didn't affect our business in a negative way - there was a buzz about the place.

"But after the crowd left, there was a lot of rubbish which had to be cleared outside our shop by myself.

"I do question why weddings aren't allowed more than 30 people, but there were hundreds of people watching that game stood side by side."

A spokesman from Rendezvous said: "Unfortunately a small minority of the customers permitted to attend the local authority approved outside screening of England versus Croatia, and failed to maintain social distancing requirements we strived to put in place.

"This momentarily diversion from the guidance has resulted in us reviewing the situation and we have decided to cancel all future outside events until the Government has lifted all social distancing restrictions. Future games still can be enjoyed inside our venue, safely seated, with table-side hospitality."

A spokesman from Dorset Council said: "It's disappointing the football screening event on Custom House Quay did not run in accordance with the assurances made to us by the event organiser.

“There was a lack of social distancing at the event, despite safety and security measures put in place by the organisers to make sure Covid guidelines were followed.

"The organiser recognises that the event didn’t proceed as intended and because compliance with Covid secure requirements cannot be guaranteed, they have taken the decision to cancel future planned Euros events."

  • An earlier article suggested Dorset Council had cancelled future big screenings. We are happy to confirm it was the event organisers who made this decision.

 

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