A booking fee charge will see the cost of admission to an ABC Council-planned Hallowe’en event increase by 50 per cent.
Concerns have been voiced over the change with fears that some could be scared off by the Hallowe’en Spookacular price hike.
The two-day event – which also hosts mobile traders on site – is being held at the Portadown People’s Park at the end of next month.
Last year some 2,500 people attended the Hallowe’en festivities in the town venue.
At that time, there was a cover charge of £2 per person.
But the council’s leisure and community services committee has been told the Hallowe’en Spooktacular is now incurring “additional costs” in the form of “IT fees for the booking element of the event”.
This means an extra £1.20 being paid per booking.
The council had been asked to approve increasing the gate fee per person from £2 last year to £3 this year to help cover the extra cost.
Ulster Unionist Alderman Kenneth Twyble said that whilst he broadly supported the recommendation, he felt £3 per person was “expensive for families” attending.
He asked if a reduction could be considered for multiple bookings.
The council’s business manager said he would clarify with the booking company if the configuration could be adjusted on the system to enable a discounted price for families.
The council will look to offering a family entrance price of £10 – for two adults and three children – if “technically possible through the booking company”.
It will then charge £3 each for individuals.
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