O’Loan questions proposed charges for Braid box office

The SDLP’s Declan O’Loan said he was concerned that those buying tickets for events at The Braid could be faced with a £1.25 booking charge per ticket.

The council’s Community Planning & Wellbeing Committee had last month put forward plans for a six-month trial for the new online ticketing system to be trialled at The Braid for the purchase of tickets to shows being held there. But when the matter came before full council on Wednesday for ratification, Cllr. O’Loan asked if the matter of booking charges could be looked at further.

“It’s good to see this [online booking] initiative,” Cllr. O’Loan said.

Referring to the proposed £1.25 booking charge, Cllr. O’Loan asked: “Is that per customer per booking or per ticket?”
He also referred to the controversy over online booking charges in general, noting there are “quite hefty charges” in some cases.

Councillor James Currie, who was in attendance at the original committee meeting, said he had asked the same questions at the meeting and was informed the £1.25 charge was per ticket.

“If you’re buying six tickets, it’s £1.25 per each of the six tickets,” Cllr. Currie added.

Cllr. O’Loan said it was a “hefty charge” and asked if charges from other venues could be compared.

“We want to be getting the best system for the public,” Cllr. O’Loan said.

Town Clerk Anne Donaghy said she would get this information and report back to the next Community Planning & Wellbeing Committee.