January 19, 2006
Burnham-On-Sea’s beach fireworks threatened by council cost cuts
Sedgemoor District Council is considering cancelling Burnham’s annual beach fireworks display as part of its ongoing cost-cutting exercise.
The popular event attracts thousands of people each November.
With the district council being asked by the government to cut £950,000 from its annual costs, Burnham-On-Sea.com has learned that the council is considering pulling the plug on the display and relying on local businesses to come up with the cash instead.
A district council spokeswoman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Cancelling Burnham’s fireworks is one of a range of cost-cutting options that are to be considered by our Executive Committee on January 23rd.”
Last November, more than 4,000 people flocked to the display, which is the curtain-raiser for Burnham’s carnival festivities. An impressive 25-minute display boasted over 5,000 individual explosions.
News of the threat comes just days after the council began looking for a new company to take over Burnham-On-Sea’s swimming pool and the town’s Princess Hall was also threatened with closure.
RELATED LINKS:
Big crowds watch Burnham-On-Sea’s 2005 fireworks
Fireworks wow the crowds in 2004