Council turns down cash plea to help carnival

Accrington Lions Club, which has put on the bi-annual event, since 1989, asked for £5,000 to pay for essential health and safety measures, such as road closures and barriers.

In the past, this money has been set aside in the authority's leisure services budget as its contribution to the carnival, which was first held in 1926 and attracts more than 10,000 people from across East Lancashire.

However, this year the Lions were advised to apply for the funding through the Peel and Barnfield Area Council.

But area councillors told the Lions there was not enough money in the pot. Carnival chairman Ray Pullinger said this year's event, on Saturday, June 18, would go ahead, although the money the Lions are usually able to donate to local charities, usually around £10,000, would be reduced to cover the extra £5,000 costs.

But he said if the council withdrew its support the Lions would probably not organise another carnival after that.

Mr Pullinger said: "This has always been a partnership between us and the local authority - we are just the organisers.

"They seemed to think that £3,000 sponsorship we got from the North Lancs Training Group absolved them from any responsibility, but it costs up to £15,000 to put the event on.

"In the past we have always had a close working relationship with the council and it has always taken responsibility for funding some of the essential health and safety issues."

He added: "The carnival will go ahead this year, the preparations are too far advanced not to, but the question is whether the Lions will want to continue organising it in the future.

"I think without the partnership of the council our members will probably feel it is too much of a risk and will say it was time for us to call it a day."

But Coun Tony Dobson said there might be another way to find the funding for this year and has agreed to meet with Mr Pullinger next month to discuss it.