Tourism leaders have expressed 'shock' at the cancellation of Looe's New Year fireworks display and say the move could cause more problems than it solves.

The South East Cornwall Tourism Association (SECTA) says it is 'greatly disappointed' by Looe Town Council's decision to cancel the traditional seafront display after appeals for help in organising it gained no response.

Concerns had also been raised about damage to beachfront properties and the cost of clearing up the town afterwards.

Moving the display from the Banjo Pier to the Millpool car park had been suggested, but SECTA says cancelling the event outright is likely to lead to people letting off their own fireworks with no safety controls, and revellers roaming the streets into the early hours because the traditional end to the evening's fun, signalled by the display, would no longer take place.

'Over the last ten years Looe has established itself as one of the top four venues in England for New Year's Eve celebrations and an estimated 20,000 visitors spend a lot of money in the town and surrounding area,' said SECTA's vice chairman, Jan Sroczynski.

Litter

'This decision would be on a par with Blackpool cancelling the illuminations because the visitors leave litter which must be cleared up.'

He said SECTA believed that as well as being a special occasion for visitors and bringing income to the town at a time of year when it is very much needed, it was also a special night for Looe residents.

SECTA had put its own proposals to the town council during the debate over the display's future and Mr Sroczynski said it was wrong to suggest that local businesses did not support the event.

'SECTA has, in the past, contributed to the event but is not in a position to organise public events, which surely must be the role of the council. A SECTA representative attended every meeting called by Looe Town Council and was prepared to sit on a working group to seek a way that the fireworks event could be staged,' he said.

He pointed out that the 'public money' which Looe Town Council had decided it could no longer spend on the event came from local businesses through business rates and from visitors' car parking, which brought a huge amount of money to the town.

'The public surely deserve to have at least a little bit spent on them to celebrate New Year.

'Looe and the Caradon area continue to have the lowest overnight spend per visitor in Cornwall and the downgrading of these celebrations will mean an even lower spend. SECTA questions whether the various elected bodies in Looe wish to see Looe thrive as a popular tourist destination or reverting to a rundown coastal town with high unemployment – particularly during these tough economic times.'