New Year will be welcomed with a bang in Looe!
Looe Town Council have stepped in to save the annual fireworks in the town on New Year’s Eve. The town is a popular choice for new year celebrations with the annual firework display at the seafront enjoyed by hundreds of residents and visitors.
What many people don’t realise is that the fireworks are funded and arranged by members of the community, for the community. When a change of organisers this year meant that funds were not available to pay the deposit to the fireworks supplier, the group began crowd funding to raise the money needed. Businesses and individuals in the town are contributing to this but it was clear that there would not be enough money raised in time to pay the deposit.
Because of the exceptional circumstances this year, the Town Council agreed to pay the £2,000 needed to secure the booking and make sure that this much-loved event in Looe has every chance of going ahead in 2023. Fund-raising is continuing to raise the balance needed for the fireworks display and Councillors are working with the organisers to encourage donations from local businesses and organisations, and to collect donations in the town or online via GoFundMe.com – search for ‘Looe fireworks’.
Tracey Pickard, fund raiser for the fireworks group, said “We’re all keen to keep this event in Looe and we still need more volunteers to come forward and help us. We’re not a business with money sitting in an account so we need to raise funds to put the fireworks on. Looe is really good at coming together and contributing so I’m sure enough money will be raised but we were stuck for a deposit until the Council stepped in and we’re really grateful for their generous donation”.
Clllr Edwina Hannaford, Mayor of Looe, said “The fireworks on 31st December are an important event in our calendar and loved by all those who come here to party on New Year’s Eve. On behalf of the Town Council, I’d really like to thank the previous organisers of the event as well as those who have now volunteered to take over and are working hard to raise the funds needed. We hope that our donation will encourage more contributions and Councillors will continue to collaborate with the organisers to ensure that Looe welcomes in the New Year with a bang!”
