Sparks fly over ‘exclusive’ ticket costs of Council fireworks display

Free fireworks: A Tower Hamlets firework display in 2010. Photograph: © GanMed64 (Creative Commons)

Residents are up in arms over the cost of the first public fireworks display to be held in Hackney in ten years – because the tickets are too expensive.

Tickets to the council-run event, taking place in Clissold Park on Saturday November 8, cost £7.50 per adult and £2.50 per child for residents, and £8.50 and £3.50 for non-residents.

There is also a booking fee of £1 per ticket online and £1.25 over the phone.

However many local residents say that at £20 for a family of four, the costs of the tickets are too high for low-income families, and that the event should be free.

In a statement Hackney Council said it was currently working “within difficult financial constraints” and that “it could not justify spending taxpayers’ money” on the display.

Emma Dixon has lived just outside the Hackney border in Islington, near Clissold Park, for 17 years.

As a non-Hackney resident she has paid £45 to take her family of six to see the the display.

Ms Dixon told the Hackney Citizen that ticket costs would exclude many families: “I am really shocked that a Labour council would set ticket prices so high in these times when so many families are struggling. One can only conclude that they are happy to exclude the unwaged, unemployed, the elderly, disabled people, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“They could so easily have provided family tickets or discounts for pensioners or unemployed people.”

Ms Dixon added: “I would also question who is going to profit from the display – presumably there will be food and drink stalls in the park and people will be parting with even more hard-earned cash on the night!”

Ruth-Anna Macqueen, from Clapton, was also unhappy at the prices. She said: “There always used to be free fireworks on the Downs when I was growing up.

“This just seems like the very opposite of a community event, at £20 for a family of four it will exclude a large proportion of Hackney residents.

“I think the lack of discounts for the unwaged, disabled, elderly and [those on] low incomes is appalling.”

A spokesperson for Hackney Council said: “The fireworks evening will offer an opportunity to attend a display in the borough for the first time in over ten years.

“However, at a time when the Council continues to work within difficult financial constraints, we felt we could not justify spending taxpayers’ money on the display.

Instead, the ticket charges are intended to allow us to cover our costs for the evening. The Council will not make a profit from the event.”

The fireworks display will include illuminated stilt-walkers, an aerialist performing in an 11m-high installation, fire-walkers and food and drink stalls.

Other councils such as Lewisham and Waltham Forest are holding free community firework events.