10:30am Thursday 9th July 2009
By Tom Moseley
COUNCIL bosses have been accused of “killing” Blackburn’s festivals after slashing the annual budget by 40per cent.
Just £90,000 has been set aside for this month’s Celebrate Blackburn event, sparking a furious backlash from fans of the axed Arts in the Park and Mela events.
They say Blackburn with Darwen Council is “phasing out” the festivals to balance the books after scrapping Arts in the Park and the Mela.
The two popular summer dates were last year replaced by the month-long, town centre “Celebrate Blackburn” event.
At the time, leisure and culture chiefs insisted the decision was not a cost-saving move, because they were spending the same amount – £150,000 – on both events.
Bosses insisted last year’s first-ever Celebrate Blackburn was a success, despite none of the events reaching full capacity.
Attractions included performances by rock band Echo and the Bunnymen and the Northern Chamber Orchestra.
Steve Rigby, the town hall’s leisure and culture boss, insisted this year’s line-up, spread over three weeks, including the return of running and cycling races to the town centre, was a “quality programme”.
But Coun Kate Hollern, leader of the opposition Labour group, said: “The festivals are dead.
"This is a sad day for the people of Blackburn. They promised it was not a cost-saving measure, and now we are left with virtually nothing.
“Ask anyone who went to Arts in the Park, it was a wonderful event for all the family.”
Council bosses said the move into the town centre was to avoid a repeat of the 2007 washout which saw both events cancelled.
Mr Rigby said: “Following the success of last year’s inaugural festival, and listening to feedback from people who attended, we have again drawn up a quality programme of activities, to suit all tastes.”
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