New year fireworks

[BoldBlueZebra]

just why - spending so much time and money on banning log burners, diesel and petrol engines, publicising air quality and monitoring said air, pollution and etc and yet millions of pounds of fireworks are going up all over the world. Can’t afford gas but you can’t light your log burner because particulates you know but we can toast £2.6 million quid on londons fireworks with no regard for pollution or particulates. How frustrating.

YANBU to think fireworks have had their day?

or AIBU and a massive kill joy

I love fireworks but holy moly how much money did Sadiq Khan just burn . Felt tone deaf to me

I've always thought this. I mean, once you've seen a few, you've seen them all. I really don't see the appeal, which is fine - I'm sure plenty of people don't see the appeal in things I like, but it's all a bit simple "ooh big shiny thing go bang".

I am a massive NYE scrooge!

Simpletons

Pre 2000 no one did fireworks at new year.

Strange

I was in Sydney at New Years Eve in 1992 and definitely saw fireworks there on the bridge.

I don’t mind displays but there’s been massive amounts going off near me for the last 3 hours and still going.

I live in quite a socially poor area and dread to think of the costs involved.

100,000 tickets at £30-50 makes a fair old sum. If you assume an average of £40, it's £400,000.

There would still be people going into London in any case for New Year, so most of the cost of policing and transport would be pretty similar without it, but ticketing takes a fair chunk of money back from people who would be as likely to be somewhere needing policing and transport, etc, without making any contribution.

Doesn't appeal to me in the slightest, but I can't get wound up about it, it's one of the things cities do as part of tourism/advertising to the world.

*£4 million.

No organised firework display where I live. Just individuals, many of whom have been drinking for hours, setting of fireworks. I much prefer organised displays.

More like £4m based upon your figures!

I’m with you OP. Whilst they were beautiful, I’m fuming that so much money was wasted when Rachel Reeves is constantly whinging at how skint the U.K. is. It’s all so we can show off to other countries I reckon but regular people here need that money.

I don't get the appeal at all. Empty barrels and all.

Personally I thought it was awful. Frantic and disjointed, like someone had just thrown as many different songs and quotes together as they could muster in 10 minutes. If it's an advert for London it's not appealing.

We are lucky our vantage point gives us great views across the city and we can pick out area's some of which happen to be the most deprived area's and some of what went up was of display standard.
I'm not saying people in these areas shouldn't have fun etc but thousands must have been spent collectively.
And I'm not knocking anyone in council housing as I'm council tenant myself.

Apologies. I'm tired.

In which case, it covers the cost and then some on top.

I’m glad it’s pissing down!

Dry and clear Ne Scotland unfortunately.

I don’t mind the fireworks personally. There were so many at midnight that I dont think there have ever been as many as there were today. Am I the only person who can’t afford things these days? I don’t live in an affluent area . I’m clearly doing something really wrong. I cant afford fireworks!

Why!? why is everyone so boring!

It sounds like a warzone here! 🧨🎇🎆

I quite like them but my greyhound is terrified.

My DH has had to play her Gregory Isaac's greatest hits, which is the only thing that ever calms her down.

It's not raining in London as far as I can see. I love fireworks, thoroughly enjoyed it. The music choices need to be improved though

700,000 children living in poverty in London. 12,000 people without a home. It's mind boggling to me that millions of pounds just went up in smoke. I don't hate fireworks, but the money spent is obscene.

Well I endured over 10 minutes of fireworks just after the bells.
They woke me up actually.
And I feel really distressed for the local bird population and wildlife, and for the household pets.
Mindless noise from anti social people who have more money than sense.

Yeah but they're not paid for by the government.

The fireworks are paid for by the Greater London Authority Arts and Culture Fund.

Plus it's a ticketed event and they cost between £20 - £50.

The cost of the fireworks would have been covered my ticket sales.
I love watching the round ups the next day of the New Year light shows from around the world, I think we always put on a great show.
I ❤ London

We did!

Some friends of ours did it in the late 1980s. We thought it was so good we took up the baton.

Back then there were no high street firework shops, not round here anyway, so we had to buy some at Bonfire Night and save them.