Organisers of Darwen 1940s Day slam council for lack of support (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Organisers of Darwen 1940s Day slam council for lack of support

1:29pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Dan Clough, Reporter

FINAL NOTE? Songstress Linda Dee enterained the crowd at the town's ‘Forties Day’ on the market square on Saturday.

ORGANISERS of Darwen’s annual 1940s Day celebration say they will scrap the event after claiming they have received little support from the town council.

The event, which took place last weekend, was hailed a success by councillors and organisers.

But representatives of the Soldier Support Group, which has organised the event for the past three years, said they were ‘really disappointed’ with the council’s input.

At a town council meeting, Wyn Godfrey, from the group, said: “We were really disappointed with the lack of town councillors who attended. We are not doing it again.

“The town council is supposed to be there supporting these events but only one of them could be bothered to turn up.”

Mrs Godfrey said the group was grateful to town council mayor Eileen Entwistle who did go to the event.

She said: “We would like to thank Eileen and her daughter who opened the event and spent all day there. Their support was really appreciated.

“I would also like to thank former town council deputy chairman Steve Duncan who allocated £1,000 to the event.”

Mrs Godfrey acknowledged that councillors Brian Taylor and Stephanie Brookfield would have attended but were unable to visit on the day.

However, Coun Roy Davies said weekends were for councillors to spend time with families. He said: “I work very hard, as I know many of my colleagues do, around my ward. I am available seven days a week for people to speak to.

“There are events all over the place that we try to attend but we have to see our families as well.”

Mrs Godfrey said: “I’m not saying he can’t spend time with his family, but this is only once a year and if he can’t make it, it is a poor do.”

Mayor Eileen Entwistle said it was a good event. She said: “I am really disappointed and I hope they reconsider. It was a really good day and it brought a lot of people in from out of town.”