ALTHOUGH a village’s annual bonfire night has been declared a huge success, the finger has been pointed at “outsiders” who watched the display but then walked away without giving any cash.
The lack of generosity from some attending the event led Gainford parish councillors to debate whether they should erect fencing and impose a ticket price next year.
The organisers of Gainford’s display, held on Saturday, November 3, are still totting up the proceeds but they
estimate it raised about £3,000.
All the money will be ploughed back into 2019’s event. Last week’s parish council meeting heard that although income comes from the food tent, the event mostly relies on donations – something some people were reluctant to give this year.
Cllr Mark Charge told last week’s parish council meeting: “Most of those from the village donated but it was the ones from outside the village – they didn’t.”
Cllr Simon Platten said: “It would pay for itself to put up Harris fencing and then charge people.”
But parish clerk Martin Clark warned: “If we start putting up Harris fencing, then the event starts to become no longer a village event.”
He also said there was a risk people would just stand outside and watch the fireworks without paying.
Cllr Mike Roff suggested: “We could put signs up next year to say that what we make goes to support next year’s event – donate, enjoy and come back.”
People were paying an average of £1 each to attend, the meeting heard.
Compared to Barnard Castle’s event, which had an entrance fee of £6 for adults and £4 for children, this was a bargain, Cllr Roff said.
This was the first year that the parish council has carried out most of the organising of the display.
An estimated 3,000 people watched a “stunning” display of fireworks lasting about 25 minutes, the parish council reported.
However the large number of people caused issues with car parking, said parish councillors who claimed it caused “chaos” in some parts of Gainford.
Cllr Platten said: “If we needed an ambulance on our street it would not have been able to get through.”
Another householder was blasted for being “arrogant” and refusing to move.
Cllr Charge said: “It was a case of ‘it’s my house, I will stand in my garden’.
“I thought, ‘okay then, the display won’t start until you move’.”
