The council spent more than £40,000 on this year’s Big Bang Bonfire event – which included a 20-minute firework display.

The cost of hosting this year’s free Big Bang Bonfire event was £41,696.35, according to data from a Freedom of Information request.

Counci leader, Cllr Amanda Chadderton, said the local authority considered cancelling the event, but that the cost was "proportionate to the joy it brought families across the borough".

Additionally, the council said it did not have an estimate as to how much money it had lost in car parking revenue as a result of making parking free in the town centre from 3pm on the day of the event, which took place at Oldham Edge Playing Fields.

The event, which took place on Thursday, November 3, lasted from 5pm to 8.30pm, with 20 minutes of fireworks from 7pm to 7.20pm.

As the name would suggest, the event also included the lighting of a bonfire – alongside fairground rides, food stalls and shows.

This year marked the tenth year of the event, after a post-Covid return in 2021.

Seven-year-old Corey Platt from the OL4 area of Oldham was the winner of a competition to push the button to kick off the display, alongside his Mum, Amy.

Fireworks events were cancelled by a number of local authorities across the country this year, with many citing cost concerns.

In Bolton, the Leverhulme Park firework display was cancelled, with the council citing rising costs putting pressure on to local authorities.

Manchester City Council cancelled the annual Heaton Park firework display for similar reasons, leading to disappointment.

In October, Mayor Andy Burnham, speaking on BBC Radio Manchester’s weekly hot seat, defended councils which had cancelled their displays.

The Greater Manchester mayor, who was not part of the local council decisions, said that celebrations were beyond what councils could afford.

Council leader comments

Cllr Amanda Chadderton, leader of Oldham Council, said: “We are aware that other bonfires were cancelled throughout Greater Manchester, and we also considered cancelling ours.

“However, with careful consideration to the cost-of-living crisis and the financial struggles residents we decided that now more than ever it was important to stay committed to our free winter events schedule.

“We know people love this event and, at a time when families are really struggling with rising cost, we wanted to ensure families still had something to enjoy

“Out of context, the cost may appear high, but it isn’t, it’s proportionate to the joy it brought families across the borough.

“10,000 people enjoyed an evening of fireworks, entertainment, and the biggest free bonfire in the borough. The cost per head to deliver the event works out at just under £0.18 per person in the borough”.

Update 21/11: The council statement originally stated the event cost 0.06p per person in the borough. This has been updated to £0.18 per person in the borough.