Fireworks erupt at Council meeting

In the end, it was decided to refer the debate on Christmas expenditure back to the Leisure and Development Committee and sponsor a fireworks display being organised by the Outlet Shopping Centre.

There was a mixed reaction to Councillor Seamus Doyle’s proposal to donate 2,000 to the Outlet Halloween extravaganza, but it was eventually carried by 14 votes to three.

The original recommendation by the Leisure and Development Committee was to abandon the idea of holding any sort of fireworks display this year in a bid to save money. At the committee meeting on September 13, council chief executive, Mr Liam Hannaway, pointed out that the council’s revenue budget was currently overspent by 150,000. This, he said, was due to reductions in leisure centre and building control income and also in a cut of General Grant to the tune of 61,203.

Other recommendations put forward by the committee were that the council should “consolidate the Christmas 2010 celebrations with a single event organised by the council in Banbridge” and offer grants up to 500 for community groups to organise their own events.

However, when they came before the full council on Monday night, not everyone was happy at the thought of cutting back on Halloween and Christmas. Councillor David Herron said there was “something wrong if the council couldn’t spend a few thousand pounds” during the festive season. “Sometimes it is the only entertainment people get in some areas and we should be pushing the boat out to give the children and ratepayers value for money,” he said.

Following queries from a number of councillors, Mr Hannaway said the council would still provide Christmas lighting and a tree, whatever decision was taken regarding community events.

Councillor Elizabeth Ingram made the point that Rathfriland “had suffered badly last year” due to a change in the schedule of the Christmas craft fair and she didn’t want local traders to suffer any further reduction in the numbers coming into the town over the festive period this year.

With regard to the recommendation that communites in the district stage their own Christmas events, Councillor Cassie McDermott said in her experience this could be a good thing. “One of the best community Christmas events I ever attended was held in Kinallen which did its ‘own thing’ and it proved a great success,” she said.

It was decided to refer the decision on Christmas staging of events back to the Leisure and Development Committee, but the council was told a decision had to be taken that evening on what to do about Halloween. A council official told the meeting this was due to a cut-off date for the council’s name to be used on sponsorship material being used in the Outlet display.

Councillor Stephen Herron voiced his objectons to donating 2,000 to the event, claiming “If we can’t afford 6,000 to stage it ourselves, we can’t afford 2,000 either.

He added, “These are difficult times and I support the committee’s recommendation that there is no fireworks display at all this year”. Councillor Herron then proposed the council accept the committee recommendation and he was seconded by Councillor Ian Burns.

Councillor John Hanna, seconded by Councillor Doyle, proposed referring the matter back to the Leisure and Development Committee, but on hearing a decision had to be taken that evening, he withdrew the proposal.

A vote was taken on the original proposal tabled by Councillor Doyle and was carried, with councillors sponsoring the Outlet display and avoiding the extra organisational and risk assessment costs.