Sponsored by
Historic Leeds gala under threat from charges
MAGIC DAY: Last years Horsforth Gala.
The future of an historic Leeds gala has been put at risk by new council charges, it was claimed today.
Horsforth Gala dates back to the 1800s and is a highlight of the town’s events calendar each year.
But local councillor Dawn Collins says she fears for the future of the festival after organisers were told to stump up almost £400 to pay for road closures.
Being not-for-profit, the gala, like many other community events, had previously been exempt from council fees for closing roads.
Click here to register and have your say on the stories and issues that matter to you
Facing tough budget cuts, however, Leeds City Council has decided that from April all organisations will have to pay a flat fee of £384 to cover costs.
Coun Collins (Con, Horsforth) is now calling for a rethink in council policy after warning the gala – which struggles to break even – was now in jeopardy.
She said: “Horsforth Gala has been a firm fixture in the calendar for the local community.
“As part of the celebrations, we have a parade from Horsforth School to the park and this is always enjoyed. It requires rolling road closures but these have previously been at no cost to local people or the gala.
“Finding funding for events like this is always difficult, and even more so in the current financial climate.
“It’s frankly ridiculous to find out this year that the council is passing on nearly £400 of charges. The council should be supporting local events like this, not hitting cash-strapped community groups with extra charges and bureaucracy.
“How many more events will be put at risk this year because of these fees?”
She said she would seek support from members of the council’s local area committee to help foot the closures bill for the June 30 event. But she added: “I would urge the council to look again at these charges.”
A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said it had agreed to waive fees for organisations celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee but budget pressures meant others must pay.
She added: “As part of a number of budget pressures which now face the council due to government cuts, we can reluctantly no longer financially support these type of local events.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 1 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Mark Paul
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 09:05 AMGet someone to film it ! I am not kidding ! Film crews shut roads every day around Leeds and never pay a penny in fees, charges or anything else nor apply for permission, fill in any forms or anything, they even get the police to help them. what is good for the goose is good for the gander !
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.