Ayr Racecourse boss steps in to bail out firework display

Oct 15 2010 by Cheryl Mcevoy, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THE firework display at Ayr Racecourse will go ahead – despite a council decision to pull the bulk of its funding.

Businessman Alan MacDonald has volunteered to plug the massive hole in the event’s coffers after learning that it could be cancelled.

The joint racecourse owner insists that his is a good decision for the community.

He said: “It makes sense to have a safe, professionally run public display, which should reduce the need to have private displays where accidents can happen.

“It also concentrates fireworks in a half hour period, minimising he disturbance to animals and the elderly.”

South Ayrshire Council has reduced its previously generous contribution to a token.

But organiser Nigel Martin says that a bigger donation would have been in the public interest.

He explained: “While I understand the pressures on the finances of the council, I would have thought that the safety of the public, particularly children, was paramount and merited a contribution from the common good fund.

“East Ayrshire Council, for example, fund a full display while South Ayrshire Council’s contribution equates to approximately one minute’s worth of fireworks.”

But a council spokesman defended the decision, saying: “We consider the prudent management of public funds to be a paramount consideration at a time when all public bodies are faced with some extremely difficult choices and an uncertain financial settlement in the national budget.

“In the context of that challenging financial climate the council took the difficult decision to reduce the amount of public money available to fund fireworks at Ayr Racecourse and we trust our residents will understand our position.”

The event is also being funded by BAE Systems and will be held on Saturday, November 6. The gates open at 6pm and the display starts at 8pm.

A funfair and entertainment are also included in the night’s entertainment.

Tickets are £5 and available in advance until November 5 on a buy one and get one free basis. They are available from the Ayrshire Hospice fundraising department at 29 Miller Road, Ayr and at the Citadel.