A free Bonfire Night display will not be returning this year after the last event to be held cost around £30,000 for just 18 minutes.

The last annual firework display was held on Leverhulme Park in 2019 but did not come back the next year after then pandemic hit. 

In the years council leaders have said that rising costs have stopped any return for the firework festival, but alternative celebrations could be underway later this year.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Nick Peel said: “Since 2019, the increase in service costs and operational costs have risen across all areas of the industry by 30 per cent to 40 per cent. 

“Also, additional costs of equipment for fireworks and the associated insurances have increased by over 50 per cent.”

The event has not been held since 2019The event has not been held since 2019 (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “A standalone fireworks display for a minimum of 20 minutes is at basic £15,000 to £20,000 every five minutes and this does not include any other operational costs of security, lighting, trackway, etc.”

The free fireworks display had been a fixture in the borough’s calendar for more than 20 years before it was suddenly halted by the pandemic from 2020 onwards.

But mounting costs had also been a factor.

Cllr Peel said that the last firework display, in 2019, had a budget of around £30,000 for an 18-minute display and to pay for security and infrastructure.

He said that council officers had looked at whether private sponsors could have been brought in to help pay for future events, but this had not been successful.

Cllr Peel said: “Sponsorship and commercial interest previously have been very difficult to secure as the event is for a couple of hours and has no dwell time, nor does it capture data.” 

He added: “It is acknowledged that an organised display is much safer for our communities, but the cost is too high on operational costs. 

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“The marketing of an event is minimal but a financial factor.”

But Cllr Peel said that the return of the Put Big Light On festival over the Christmas period, which will feature newer techniques as light shows will be a more cost effective alternative.

He had been responding to Bolton resident Mo Akram who had contacted the council leadership directly to ask about the future of the firework display.

Mr Akram also argued that an organised event like this could help to reduce anti-social behaviour and will help raise spirits in the community.

He said: “Undoubtedly and with the recent controversy surrounding Winter Fuel Payments, you will agree, there has been much doom and gloom since the pandemic and traditional historic events being cancelled in the region since 2019, with the Fifth of November and Guy Fawkes - penny for the Guy, fast becoming a distant British memory.”