Brighton and Hove's biggest firework display forced to find new home

Brighton Lions have been told by Sussex County Cricket Club that they cannot use their 7,000 capacity ground for the huge charity fireworks display.

Concerns about the impact of the event, which attracts crowds of up to 8,000 people, on the venue’s outfield are behind the decision by the club.

It has left the community fundraisers refusing to rule out having to move the event outside the city to ensure its continuation.

The Brighton Lions Fireworks Display raised £34,000 for the charity and cricket club in 2013 but was cancelled last year after the project to relay the cricket outfield overran.

Following a meeting this month, the Lions have been told they will not be able to use the cricket ground now or in the future.

Lions president Brian Slater said building work in Davigdor Road, Hove, would have restricted the size of pyrotechnic shells that could have been used in this year’s event.

Mr Slater said: “We were certainly expecting to go back this year, the impression we had after last year was that we would be able to return.

“It was the cricket club who pulled the plug.

“We have a couple of irons in the fire and hope to have a venue lined up in a couple of weeks.

“It would have to be somewhere new as the Withdean stadium is not appropriate.

“We would hope to be in Brighton but we might have to go outside of it.”

Mr Slater said that the community group had struggled in the past year without the £15,000 that the fireworks display raised annually for good causes.

He said: “It has impacted on what we have been able to do to help the local community, we have had to draw our horns in and tell some people we can’t help them.

“We have been able to help the elderly but when it comes to helping the general public, we haven’t been able to do anything like as much.”

For more information on the Brighton Lions and their work visit brightonlions.org.uk