The popular Liverpool Christmas Tractor Convoy, a festive fundraising event that has raised over £300,000 for Alder Hey Children's Charity, has been cancelled indefinitely. The organiser, local farmer Olly Harrison, announced the decision, citing significant concerns over public safety and personal liability in the absence of official support.
Key Takeaways
- The annual Liverpool Christmas Tractor Convoy will not take place this year and has been cancelled indefinitely.
- Organiser Olly Harrison stated the decision was made due to the personal legal risk associated with managing large crowds without official support.
- Since its inception in 2020, the event has successfully raised more than £300,000 for Alder Hey Children's Charity.
- The cancellation follows a previous withdrawal of traffic management support from Merseyside Police in 2022.
Organiser Cites Safety and Liability Concerns
Olly Harrison, the farmer who founded the event, explained that the responsibility for managing the large crowds the convoy attracts has become too great a personal risk. In a public statement, he detailed the reasons behind the difficult decision.
"Sadly, there won't be one this year," Harrison said. "It's not going to be possible to hold it. The onus seems to be on me now for the crowds it generates and if anything was to go wrong it would be me that would end up in prison."
The event, which sees dozens of tractors decorated with festive lights parade through Liverpool's streets, has grown significantly in popularity, drawing huge numbers of spectators, particularly outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital.
"The numbers it generates at Alder Hey are huge as well so we can't risk anything going wrong," Harrison added, emphasizing the high stakes involved in ensuring public safety at such a large-scale gathering.
A Successful Charity Initiative
Inspired by a similar parade on the Isle of Man, the Liverpool Christmas Tractor Convoy began in 2020 as a way to spread festive cheer during a challenging time and support a vital local institution.
In just a few years, the convoy became a beloved annual tradition for many families across Merseyside. Its primary mission has always been to raise funds for Alder Hey Children's Charity.
Impressive Fundraising Total
Since the first event in 2020, the convoy and its supporters have raised a combined total of more than £300,000 for the children's hospital, funding essential equipment and services.
Each year, residents have lined the streets, often braving cold weather, to watch the brightly lit agricultural vehicles pass by. The event provided a unique spectacle on the city's waterfront and brought joy to patients and staff during its stop at the hospital.
Challenges in Event Management
The organisational challenges for the event increased in 2022. According to reports from that time, Merseyside Police informed Harrison that they would no longer be able to provide traffic management services for the parade due to a change in force policy.
Adapting to Reduced Support
To ensure the event could proceed, Mr. Harrison took on the responsibility of organising traffic management himself. He arranged for independent Bike Marshals to escort the convoy, providing safety at the front and rear of the procession.
Despite these efforts, the growing size of the crowds and the associated legal responsibilities have now made it untenable for a private individual to continue organising the parade without formal backing from local authorities.
The Future of the Convoy
While the event is cancelled for the foreseeable future, Harrison has not ruled out a potential return if the circumstances change. He suggested a partnership with the council could provide a viable path forward.
"We'll never say never," he stated. "If the council want to take it on board and we provide the spectacle in a way that's possible we would do that but at the moment I can't see that happening."
Last year's parade followed an extensive three-hour route that started and finished in Huyton. It travelled through Halewood and South Liverpool before making its way into the city centre, including a drive along The Strand for the first time. The route was carefully planned to include a quiet zone near Alder Hey before the tractors arrived at the hospital.
Harrison concluded his announcement by thanking the public for their support over the years. "Thank you for everyone that's been out over the years and yeah, watch this space if it does ever happen again. Yeah, sad times."