The Hogmanay street party in Dornoch is under threat next year unless councillors change their minds about charging the community to close off a key road.
Costs for the volunteer-run spectacle in the Square could soar under new extended public entertainment licence requirements for free events, which come into force on January 1.
The licence costs £432 but also throws up a requirement for an application to be made for a temporary road closure order at a cost of £1,122.
Dornoch’s Hogmanay street party has been running since the Millenium and attracts visitors from far and wide, with about 3,000 people attending last year.
Its organisers have paid for the licence, which lasts three years, because it was needed to enable celebrations to continue past midnight and finish at the usual 1.30am.
But they objected to the road closure charge and it has since been waived by council officers in the roads and transport team.
However, there is still a future risk of huge costs for next year’s event and beyond, throwing its future into doubt.
Organiser Joan Bishop said: “I just hope councillors will come to their senses and decide to waive the charge completely because we could not bear paying another £1,000, and we would have to properly close the road and only let people in who have tickets. The whole point is that this event is open and anyone can come along at any time.
“I can see if you are looking to close the A9 it would cost a lot of money, but traffic in Dornoch can turn around and come back along the High Street and we use bollards and stewards, so if there was an emergency there is a procedure we have in place.”
Local councillor Jim McGillivray said the new licensing requirements are “more stringent and demanding than they should have been”, adding: “Life is hard enough without extra form-filling bureaucracy and costs lumped on volunteers.
“The event just wouldn’t be possible. These things work in a ‘wing and a prayer’ and a tight budget and we just don’t need to go down that route.
“If obstacles can’t be removed, they must at least be mitigated with common sense and co-operation.”
Dornoch Community Council chairwoman Yvonne Ross, who along with volunteers organised the previous 16 Hogmanay events, said: “It started all those years ago and it started to extend the seasons for tourists and encourage people to celebrate together at New Year.
“It’s an event that is growing every year and it would be devastating for local businesses and visitors if it could not go ahead.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “We have agreed for the moment to waive the fees at Dornoch.”
