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Councils across the UK have been accused of “penny-pinching” by scrapping their public Bonfire Night events. Popular fireworks displays have been cancelled for a number of reasons this year, including escalating costs and health and safety issues. Local authorities that previously held Bonfire Night events have also refused to reintroduce their events, while others have removed integral parts of the evening, including the bonfire itself, for environmental reasons. Critics of the cancellations have hit out at the hypocrisy of councils “finding the cash for every awareness week and diversity jamboree” while failing to celebrate traditional British celebrations. Truro City Council announced that its Bonfire Night would not be going ahead because of issues with “traffic congestion” and the “increasing need to consider how to keep pedestrians and vehicles safe”. It added that locating an alternative venue safely would not be possible “without incurring significant additional costs”. The council said: “Truro City Council is not alone in making this decision about its firework display, as other events in the local area have also been cancelled.” Labour-run Nottingham City Council, which had previously cancelled its Bonfire Night and fireworks display at Forest Recreation Ground, has now formally removed it from the commissioned events programmes it runs. It claimed it would not be reintroducing the event because of the “significant cost pressures” of staging it. A council spokesman said: “The event has been removed from the council’s commissioned events programme as part of £18m of savings approved in the 2025/26 budget earlier this year. “The event hasn’t been staged since 2019 due to increased costs, with 2020 and 2021 affected by the pandemic.” ‘One of Britain’s oldest and best-loved traditions’ Elliot Keck, campaigns director at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It’s disappointing to see councils cancelling Bonfire Night, one of Britain’s oldest and best-loved traditions. “Too many councils find cash for every awareness week and diversity jamboree under the sun, but suddenly plead poverty when it comes to traditional British celebrations. “Instead of penny-pinching on community events, councils should be cutting waste and unnecessary bureaucracy so taxpayers’ money goes towards things that actually bring people together.” Labour-led Manchester City Council confirmed it would not be hosting any Bonfire Night event for the sixth year in a row, including its popular Heaton Park celebration. It said it had instead opted for smaller community Halloween-themed events which were free to help families who “continue to worry about the cost-of-living”. Cambridge City Council has also failed to include a bonfire for its Bonfire Night event since 2023. The change came as a result of a complaint which argued that the bonfire was unlawful, violated council policy, and was a danger to public health, which led to the Labour authority stopping future bonfires at the event. The council’s website states that it is “criminal offence” to light a barbecue or bonfire on any open space within Cambridge. It adds: “We urge you not to have bonfires or burn waste. Bonfires create pollution which can cause health problems, particularly for people with respiratory problems. “A bonfire can be seen as a convenient way of getting rid of a large amount of waste. However, it is not usually the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of rubbish.” All councils were contacted for comment.
