City could put fireworks displays on again

The public park displays were replaced by the River of Light festival in 2016

Official bonfire night firework displays could one day return to Liverpool, the council's leader has said.

Publicly funded municipal displays in Sefton Park and Newsham Park were a popular part of bonfire night celebrations for many years, but were replaced by the River of Light festival in 2016.

That event featured fireworks until 2019, but there have been no council funded fireworks on bonfire night since then.

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, Liam Robinson said "never say never" when asked whether the council would bring fireworks back to the city's parks in future.

"We're not going to start rushing about, but certainly we wouldn't say never if that's what residents wanted to try and do again," he said.

Municipal firework displays were commonplace a decade ago, with most councils staging some kind of event.

Last year, just two of the six councils in the Liverpool city region funded a 5 November display.

This year, there are no municipal bonfire night events.

St Helens Rugby League club is hosting the From The Ground Comes Light display this year. It was previously staged in partnership with the council, and replaced the display previously held at Sherdley Park.

'Never say never'

Cost cutting is the main reason councils have stopped holding fireworks displays. Tighter health and safety regulations have also increased costs.

Liam Robinson said Liverpool City Council got more value for money through staging the 10-day River of Life event than a single evening of fireworks.

River of Light was introduced in 2016, first as a fireworks display, before developing into an art trail.

This year's event runs from 24 October to 2 November and will centre around the theme of 'Optics – Science and Light'.

"What we've tried to do with that is spread it out over a period of time so it's not just around that November 5 date," Mr Robinson said.

"I love bonfire night, as a kid it was one of my favourite times of the year and we still have a few fireworks in our little backyard with the kids because it's a lovely thing to do.

"I know there's a number of local councillors who use some of their devolved local area fund to help pay for some appropriate local displays with good organisations."

Despite the "huge success" of River of Light, the city leader said he understood the nostalgia and fondness around the big events in the park.

He didn't deny fireworks could one day return to Liverpool, adding: "Doing the bonfire bit might be a bit more difficult but the potential of doing a firework display in future years, we'd never say never."