BCP Council will not be marking 80 years of VE Day in Poole this year, a senior councillor has admitted.
Cllr Rich Herrett said there is no funding available to mark the end of WWII and victory on May 8 this year.
The cabinet member for commercial operations and leisure said BCP Council will mark the significant milestone by lighting a beacon outside the civic centre in Bournemouth.
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Christchurch Town Council has said it will host a “grand celebration” at the quay that will be transformed into a “vibrant post-war gathering place, evoking the joyful spirit of the street parties”.
Poole councillor Tony Trent said his hometown played an important part on D-Day as one of the three embarkation ports and had hoped both VE Day and VJ would be marked.
He told full council: “These are two important and significant events, and probably the last landmark anniversary for which there will be those who went through it as adults and participants, will be around to celebrate the ending of these historic wars.
“I want to draw particular attention to the second of these events, VJ Day, as it was a Poole councillor, who sadly died in civic office, who served in the Far East, and was a key part of the campaign to remember those who served in the Far East, and not just those who served in Europe.
“He was instrumental in the campaign that led ultimately to the Burma Star Memorial in Poole Park.”
BCP Council made the offer to residents to host their own street parties and around 20 applied across the conurbation, Cllr Herrett said.
Poole mayor Pete Miles and sheriff Mark Howell will be in Cherbourg on May 8 for celebrations there.
Cllr Herrett said: “As the local authority, the BCP wide event will be held at the BCP civic centre, for which invites will be going out to the appropriate people in due course.”
He added: “Due to the restraints around the Charter Trustees and the local authority if you would like to organise an event in Poole you are welcome to do so but we are not in a position to fund that at this point, but the events team remain ever supportive and I am sure will be helpful.”
