Safety first, street decorators told

As the festa season approaches, organisations involved in installing street decorations for feasts have been advised to take out insurance cover and be professionally trained in health and safety.

When decorating streets, groups should also invest in safety equipment, according to guidelines issued by the National Association of Feast Street Decorations.

The guidelines, which were issued yesterday, were drawn up by the association following extensive consultation with its members and other stakeholders.

The association encouraged all organisations to officially register as a voluntary group and become financially independent in collecting funds. They should also take advantage of EU and local funds allocated for voluntary groups, it added.

The association said the decorations should be linked to the life of the feast’s saint or the town’s historical identity.

Priority should be given to decorating the town’s main square and the roads taken by the religious procession to strengthen the link “that already exists” between the external feast and its sacred aspect.

However, it was important that decorations spread to more roads at the limits of the town using festoons, flags and banners.

More formal and informal contacts should be made between feast decorating associations and voluntary organisations.

The association strongly encouraged its members – especially the committees – to “fully” take part and be involved with religious organisations, such as the pastoral parochial council or liturgical groups.

Towns that do not have a street decorating committee should start one up, the association said.