Businesses in Enniskillen and Omagh have reacted with disappointment to the news that the annual Halloween fireworks displays have been cancelled this year.
The traditional displays were cancelled by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council just six days before the event due to ‘financial pressures’.
Many businesses across the two towns had been due to benefit from the increased footfall the event would bring, with those in the hospitality sector particularly affected.
READ MORE: Halloween fireworks cancelled in Enniskillen and Omagh as council faces financial pressures
The local council confirmed to Belfast Live that the total cost of hosting the two events would have been a total of £40,000, and said that it has not incurred any financial costs as a result of their cancellation.
Noelle McAloon, manager of Enniskillen BID, said the knock on economic impact to businesses in the Co Fermanagh town would be ‘massive’.
“I think any hospitality business will be affected by this cancellation,” Noelle told Belfast Live.
“It also has to be stated that residents of this district will now decide to leave the area to go to celebrations outside the county town.
“The negative economic impact is massive for the economy for a relatively small saving for a council the size of FODC.
“The latest announcement is simply an insult to the residents and business community.”
However Colm Broderick, president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and owner of Broderick's Bar in the Co Tyrone town, said he believed the council's decision was 'good housekeeping', although described the timing of the cancellation as 'unfortunate'.
"We're all cutting costs at the minute and I think the local authority should be doing the same," Colm said.
"I can see both sides of the story here, I know other businesses will have been holding spin-off events and may have less people in. But as a business community we don't want to see anything which contributes to our rates going up.
"I think it was a brave decision by the council to do what they did."
Shane Browne from the Cassidy Hospitality Group which owns the Westville Hotel and the Crowe’s Nest in Enniskillen said there was disappointment over the cancellation of the fireworks.
“Businesses in the town would have always god a good run from the fireworks and it was always a great event,” Shane said.
READ MORE: Halloween events across NI for the whole family to enjoy
“It is certainly disappointing we’re not going to get that day in October which is normally a quieter time of year.
“We’re just hoping that won’t be the end of the fireworks anyway and that they’ll be back again next year.”
Among the ‘immediate financial pressures’ the council said it was facing was increased energy and utility costs, as well as budgeting for a potential settlement to a trade union dispute.
“In common with other organisations and householders, the Council is facing immediate financial pressures from increased energy and utility costs and construction inflation,” a council spokesperson said.
“The Council is also in negotiation with Trade Unions regarding a variety of industrial relation matters and hope to be working towards a settlement with the Trade Unions in the coming weeks. This settlement includes an additional, unbudgeted cost.
“This decision was not taken lightly and the Council acknowledges that it has been met with disappointment.
“The cost saving is necessary to ensure that the Council can continue to meet its financial obligations whilst continuing to remain financially stable.”
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