Nottingham's annual bonfire night and firework display at the Forest Recreation Ground has been cancelled by Nottingham City Council due to budget pressures. The council said it had reluctantly taken the decision to cancel this year’s event.
Organised in partnership with the Mellors Group, it was due to take place on Saturday November 5. The event usually attracts a 40,000 strong crowd. It would have been the first time in three years, after the event had to be cancelled during the Covid pandemic.
However, like most councils around the country, the city council is facing huge budget difficulties which it says have been exacerbated by rising inflation, energy costs and other pressures. Councils in Manchester, Dundee, Cardiff, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Norwich and Hackney have all announced decisions to cancel bonfire night events this year.
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The free event is funded by the council and the Mellors Group. The council said it was having to make difficult decisions as it faces a growing budget gap next year due to the impact of the prevailing economic conditions.
However, other events can still go ahead in Nottingham, including this year’s Winter Wonderland attraction which is staged by the Mellors Group at no cost to local taxpayers.
Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Planning at Nottingham City Council, said: “We know the Bonfire Night event at The Forest is really popular with many people and we were so keen to run it this year after two years away due to Covid.
“We are not happy that the event had to be cancelled again. Unfortunately it’s one of the difficult decisions we had to take as we face increases in energy and prices in the broader economy. We were however really pleased to have had an extended 10 day goose fair which brought a lot of enjoyment to Nottingham families. The much anticipated Christmas market will also be going ahead at no cost to the taxpayer.”
James Mellors of the Mellors Group said: “I understand the council’s position on this and I’m fully in support of them cancelling it for this year. It feels such a shame after doing this for over 30 years but these things have to be done under the present climate. We hope to work with the council to put on a bigger and better event next year.”
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