The Fringe events IMO would die a death rapidly without the umbrella of the Festival proper.

I am not sure that folk who express this view, which appears on the surface to be a common sense one, really understand the nature of fringe events and the Sidmouth finge events in particular. The relationship between the festival proper is really not a very close one and has become even more distant over recent years.

It is pretty obvious that there would be less people in total available to attend fringe activities, but that these events would die rapidly, should the official event end, is less sure. Perhaps a view on this, from a Middle Bar Singers attendee or a seafront regular would be useful?