Bonfire Night could be a damp squib with several major firework displays cancelled as the cost-of-living crisis takes a toll on cash-strapped councils nationwide. Local authorities hit hard by the rising cost of energy bills have been forced to call off Bonfire Night events - despite November 5 falling on a Saturday this year.
It will be the third successive year that Glasgow's popular spectacle has not happened, after Covid-19 restrictions saw the event cancelled in 2020 and 2021. Councils in Leeds, Hackney, Cardiff and Glasgow are among many to cancel their celebrations, reporting now-unobtainable costs reaching hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Others have announced it is going to take a lot of community support to push on and host their events. Leeds County Council took the tough decision to call off their six bonfire night events as they announced they would cost an unobtainable £200,000.
Some Guy Fawkes events may never return, say organisers. Hackney Council in London announced a need to “weigh up their priorities” as their finances have been hit. Their decision has aligned with environmental concerns about air quality and pollution from the fireworks.
Councillor Caroline Woodley, Cabinet Member for Families, Parks and Leisure, said: "While we're sorry not to be hosting a fireworks display in Clissold Park this year, we have to weigh up our priorities as our finances continue to come under pressure from rising inflation and costs. We must also consider the wider environmental and air quality implications of the fireworks."
Cardiff’s four-decades long event has been cancelled “for the foreseeable future” because organisers can’t keep up with the spiraling costs. In a statement a spokesperson for the annual Sparks in the Park event said: “It is with great sadness that Cardiff Round Table and Sparks Cardiff Charitable Trust announce the cancellation of Sparks in the Park 2022 and for the foreseeable future.
“Unfortunately, over the past few years we have faced escalating costs and organisational burdens, the same as so many of us have been feeling. As a purely volunteer-driven event where all profits raised are donated to local charities and good causes, it is no longer feasible for us to put on an event of this scale.”
Likewise, Leeds City Council announced the constraints on their constituents’ budgets was increasing demand for services and support. Electricity, gas, and fuel costs have also drastically increased for the council and they expected restarting the bonfires this year would cost well over £200,000.
Normally the council funds licensed contractors to run free bonfires and fireworks events, including one at Roundhay Park that attracts thousands of people each year. Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for public health and active lifestyles, said the decision was a very hard one to make but rising costs mean they must cut all spending that is not essential.
She said: "It is obviously very disappointing for residents that bonfire and firework events cannot restart this year. However the council must work hard on cutting all non-essential spend in the current financial climate.
"We certainly did not take this decision lightly and we know that this news will come as a real disappointment to many people. This disappointment is something that we share.
"The council continues to be committed to working with partners to ensure that significant community and cultural events will still be able to take place later this budget year and in the run up to Christmas.” A council spokesperson specifically named the cost of living pressures on local residents as a reason for closing the event.
They said: “Leeds City Council’s six annual bonfire and firework events will unfortunately not be taking place this year. The decision has been taken due to significant budget pressures faced by the council and the current cost of living pressures on local residents which are having a significant impact on the council’s demand for services and support.
“In addition, the council is facing an increase in the cost of electricity, gas and fuel. Given the costs associated with restarting bonfires this year which would be in excess of £200,000, the decision to cancel displays has been taken due to the need to identify any non-essential spend.
"Leeds City Council’s Safer Strong Communities Team will be working closely with partners in areas across the city to mitigate any potential negative impact of fireworks and associated anti-social behaviour in the run-up to and on Bonfire Night. This work will be focussed in those areas that are known to have experienced anti-social behaviour around bonfire night in previous years.”
Seaford’s popular bonfire night organisers have been forced to begin crowdfunding for their free bonfire night because their costs have almost doubled over four years. The East Sussex event normally brings in 10,000 people each year.
A Seaford Bonfire Society spokesperson said: “Since reforming in 2010 we have always sought to put on a free, spectacular and above all, safe night for the estimated 10,000 people who turn out to watch our procession and display. All our members are volunteers.
"These volunteers give up many hours all year round fundraising and preparing for the night. Whilst this fundraising has always been consistently good - and we really appreciate all the individuals and businesses that have supported us over the years - our fixed costs continue to rise and have almost doubled over the last four years.
"These main costs being insurance, security, medics and event infrastructure. Without these in place we would simply not be given permission to hold our event.”
