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Safety
measures have been agreed that will allow people to celebrate May
Morning in
traditional style on Oxford's Magdalen Bridge, says the city council.
The
event will be alcohol-free: there's now a ban on drinks in the area
anyway, and revellers will be asked to put glasses and cans in "amnesty
bins".
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PICTURE
GALLERY
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Last
year the bridge was opened for the first time in four years.
Safety
arrangements for this year will include extending the two-metre-high
fencing out towards the water to deter people from climbing around
and jumping into the River Cherwell.
Stewards
and police officers will prevent the crowd in the restricted area
around the bridge exceeding 8,000 people.
Controlled
entry points will again be set up at the city centre and St Clements
ends of the bridge and people must arrive early to get a place on
the bridge itself.
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PUNTING
PRIZE
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Last
year stewards operated alcohol amnesty bins at entry points to stop
people taking glass or cans onto the bridge.
Hundreds
of bottles and cans were handed over without any incidents. The
May Morning working group has agreed the same arrangements this
year.
Thames
Valley Police Chief Inspector Chris Parker said: "The police
are there on May Morning for public safety reasons, not because
of the alcohol-free zone.
"Our
officers will only intervene and take appropriate action if there
are public safety or public order issues."
Road
closures take effect from 03:00 to approximately 07:00. High Street
will be closed from The Plain roundabout to the junction with Longwall
Street.
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