New Year's Eve fireworks WILL cost £10 - despite Mayor saying he is against the charge

New Year Fireworks over Thames.
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Pippa Crerar14 October 2016

Visitors to London’s New Year’s Eve firework celebrations will pay £10 for a ticket - despite Sadiq Khan previously condemning charging revellers.

City Hall said the Mayor had “personally scrutinised” the plans and decided to follow the advice of the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London and councils.

All the official bodies recommended that ticketing was the best way to ensure a safe and secure event, just as they did when his predecessor first introduced ticketing in 2014.

But when Boris Johnson announced visitors would be charged for the annual event for the first time, Mr Khan condemned the move, describing it as “unfair and ineffective”.

The then shadow London minister added: “Boris’s plan for fireworks charges is driven by cuts not safety.”

London New Year's Eve Fireworks 2016

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The Mayor today announced that tickets for the New Year’s Eve fireworks will go on sale next Friday 21 October at 12 noon.

He said: “London is the best place in the world to see in the New Year and every year thousands of people watch the spectacular fireworks display on the banks of the Thames.

“My number one priority is the safety of Londoners and visitors to the capital and I want everyone to be able to enjoy this fantastic event in a way that is fun and secure.

“I have taken the advice of experts including the police and emergency services and am assured that ticketing is the best way to keep revellers safe on the night.

“I want everyone to be able to fully immerse themselves in the display and will be looking at ways to get people at home and around the world involved, so everyone has a great view of the London fireworks.”

City Hall aides said the safety of revellers was among the main considerations at a time when the security risk is heightened across Europe, particularly around big public events.

Before ticketing was introduced the event was hugely oversubscribed with very large crowds - numbering 500,000 - lining the banks of the Thames and the numbers growing significantly each year.

The capital’s transport system struggled to cope while the emergency services found it difficult to move around.

Around 113,000 revellers are expected to gather in the viewing areas for the hugely popular pyrotechnic and lighting display, which is focused around the Coca Cola London Eye.

Visitors can book up to four tickets at www.london.gov.uk/nye with every penny used to pay for ticketing costs.

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