Sparks fly during fireworks debate (From Evesham Journal)

Sparks fly during fireworks debate

8:00am Monday 4th January 2010 in News

EVESHAM’S bonfire night celebrations will go ahead next year, despite calls to scrap the traditional event.

Town councillor John Payne called on fellow councillors to postpone any decision on the future of next year’s event, normally held in Corporation Meadow, so further investigations could be made.

Coun Payne had suggested cancelling it altogether after the council made a loss because, instead of paying to watch the display, people watched for free from Evesham Leisure Centre car park or Abbey Bridge.

He said: “Are you all happy at the potential of running next year’s event at a loss? This town council can put on events or it can use money from its funds for the bonfire for the people of Evesham. If we have got that money to spare I can think of some very good places to put it including promoting the town.”

However, Coun Richard Jones said the promotions committee had taken all options into consideration when agreeing last week to the bonfire night celebrations going ahead next year in its current format.

He said: “If you pack up after one failure then nothing would get done. The vote taken was with the best interests of the town. If next year everyone pulls up to the car park again perhaps that’s the time to pull it.

But personally I think it’s worth one more try.”

Councillors voted against a motion to delay the decision further.

The future of Evesham’s bonfire had been thrown into question when this year’s celebration left a £1,200 shortfall.