Hillsborough 'Proms in the Parkers' may face entrance charge

LOCAL people hoping to enjoy the Proms in the Park event in Hillsborough next year could be charged an entrance fee or have to pay for car parking if the event goes ahead again.

The popular event - which takes place in September on the same Saturday as the last night of the Proms in the Albert Hall - is organised by the BBC with support from Lisburn Council, and it is the council which now wants to talk to the Beeb about recouping some of the cost of staging the event.

Thousands of people have enjoyed seeing some of the top names in classical music free of charge over the past two years.

But now the Council wants to look at ways to reduce the amount of funding needed towards the event.

At a meeting of the Council's Economic Development Committee last month it was initially recommended that no bid be made to host the Proms in the Park in 2011.

However, following a discussion on the Council's continued funding towards the event, it was agreed that a total amount of up to 80,000 be allocated from the City Promotion Budget towards the 2011 event.

But it was also recommended the Council enter into negotiations with the BBC immediately in regard to matters such as the introduction of car park or entrance fees to the event, which would go some way to help reduce the level of funding required from the Council.