Forum Topic

Time to put an end to the Chiswick Business Park fireworks?

I've been to this event a number of times over the years, enjoyed it immensely and been very grateful to the Business Park for putting it on for the local community for free. This year however, entry seems to be very limited and I don't know anyone who has managed to get tickets. Although they were originally given out free, they are now being offered for sale for £20 online.I understand that there is probably a reason to restrict the number of people at the site with the security concerns around Iran International but it has effectively ceased to be an event for the community.I'm lucky enough to have a pet that isn't particularly bothered by fireworks but these events do cause distress to lots of animals. You could argue that this might be justified at Chiswick Business Park if lots of people were dissuaded from buying their own fireworks if there was a free public display but with the smaller number of people attending then this doesn't stack up anymore.Perhaps time to call time on this local event?

Anita Blake ● 1053d15 Comments

I tried to get a ticket on the day they were released only to find they'd gone within seconds. I'm not sure if some enjoyed early access, but it seems very odd they went so quickly and turned up for sale even more quickly!

Gordon McDonald ● 1053d

Perhaps someone is gaming the system using a programme to block book the tickets. If so they, and any of their customers may get a nasty surprise if ID is being matched to the ticket on entry which is likely given that security is so tight.

Anita Blake ● 1053d

What they mean is they have been sold to those of the buisness park and possibly clients in advance hence sold out straight away.Given the cut in numbers and knowing who is who onsite the idea they went on generl sale is pretty zero. Security is still tight so the idea general public get to buy tickets and walk in is very unlikely either.

Julian Pavey ● 1053d

Why cancel it because you can’t get a ticket? You’ll be no better off, but those who can get tickets will lose out. Bad loser?

Maggie Dodge ● 1053d

All noisy fireworks should be banned. They upset a lot of people, including ex-military, and do massive harm to domestic, farm and wild animals. It's perfectly possible to enjoy a beautiful silent fireworks display. I and I know many others would certainly prefer it, ideally to appropriate music.

Claire Moran ● 1052d

That I agree with. Much better reason not to have fireworks.

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

I'm not suggesting it should be cancelled because I couldn't get a ticket. I'm not in London this weekend so wouldn't have been going. My point was that this display was originally an act of neighbourliness by the business park to the local community. It is now, to all intents and purposes, a private corporate event. Even if you accept the views of pet owners that fireworks cause distress to their animals, a public display with a large attendance could be argued to reduce this issue because it will result in fewer small scale displays in people's back gardens.

Anita Blake ● 1052d

Animals and the owners suffer trying to pacify traumatised pets.

Janice Evans ● 1052d

I do get where you’re coming from Anita. The fact remains by cancelling it all those that would have attended would be deprived.  If the nature has changed that’s the prerogative of those funding it. If it is indeed a more corporate event then so be it. It’s still a large display as opposed to lots of little ones with the same number of attendees. We can see the display from our loft so perhaps I’m biased. But I also feel badly for pet owners and those with issues with noise neither of which applies to me.

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

Aren't drone shows more environmentally friendly?

Philippa Bond ● 1052d

I didn't think Guy Fawkes attacked the Houses of Parliament with drones!

Peter Evans ● 1051d

Chiswick fireworks are called off due to severe weather conditions.

Nikos Satsi ● 1051d

I thought it was strangely quiet this evening.

Peter Evans ● 1051d

This topic resurfaces every year on Facebook where it seems like the locals take it as a god-given right that they should have free fireworks because there used to be a bus terminal there once upon a time. West London has a fair few displays anyway compared to other parts of London, and most of them are ticketed for money, so I really don't understand the entitlement. I work in the business park (and have lived in the area for 8 years). All businesses in the park have to pay for EW services, and I think all but the fireworks are accessible to public regardless - so you can come get a pancake on pancake day, pet some pets on pet events, ride a ride on arcade days etc. for free even if you don't work there and contribute nothing to it and might actually be taking the spot of someone who does. Additionally, my company is pretty affected by this and we have to  change the way we operate during the display with potential impact on revenue. People have to alter their hours (most cases stay late/get in early) because not only Bollo Ln access gets closed (so anyone coming on foot from Acton) and because our building literally gets locked down for 1.5h before-during-after the display. So of course, our company should have dibs at the very least (we have the same dibs as every other company, even though we're the most affected) Fireworks, free ones at that, are obviously going to be a very popular event, so quite obviously the people who should have priority are the people who (indirectly) pay for it. Theoretically speaking, we don't really need tickets. You could just keep hanging around in the park after work. In addition, there are many businesses in the park working unsociable hours, so they can't exactly stop me from going to work, and usually a work pass has been a ticket enough. However, they still tell us to 'book them' because I think they need a way to track the numbers somehow. That being said, they've only introduced tickets and limits since Covid, but honestly, it still felt like too many people last year. That being said, whilst I do love fireworks and EW does them well, I wouldn't be opposed to a good drone show either.

Keidy Pukk ● 1048d

Keidy, thanks for posting. Just to be clear, when we have enjoyed these fireworks in the past we always were appreciative of the business centre for providing them. It was understood that this would cause some disruption for the businesses who were essentially paying for them. It was a nice gesture and I'm sure contributes to the general feeling in the local area that the business park is a good thing.You are right that these events had started to become overcrowded. I think it is correct to say that ticketing had been introduced previously but what happened this year is that the number released was significantly down on earlier years possibly because of the security issues at the park. Either the number was so low this year that the event was largely restricted to on site employees or someone had worked out how to game the ticketing system and sweep up all that were available. Either way, local residents were excluded.The cancellation of the event allows for a rethink. I don't think it should continue as a private corporate event because that would undermine the goodwill in the local community built up in previous years but numbers do need to be more restricted than they have been in the past.

Anita Blake ● 1046d