I've lived in Sidmouth for over seven years. I've been a councillor and I know probably more than many people what goes on hereabouts.

For the record, the town meeting was attended by about 80 people over 60 of whom were from Sidmouth or the immediate locality. Fifteen left their names with the Town Clerk as being interested in assisting the festival if they could - and some of these were from outside Sidmouth. A survey undertaken in the local Sidmouth Herald in the weeks before the meeting produced a 2:1 vote in favour of retaining a festival - in round figures 200 votes for and 100 against, out of a population of around 13,000. The circulation of the Herald is over 7000 copies per week - in two weeks 14,000 forms would have been available to be returned.

The 'return rate' of only 300 out of 14,000 is about par for the course in marketing terms (most 'junk mail' never even gets read let alone acted upon).

I hope that helps. My own view is that if the festival is 'saved' it will primarily be people from outside of Sidmouth who will take the lead. I would guess a handful from Sidmouth would be prepared to really give some time and effort.

As for the AFO report, I have far more to say about the conclusions drawn from the sample than about the methods of sampling which as you say may be broadly OK. See www.seered.co.uk/folk22.htm and the preceding page (/folk21.htm).

The argument in Sidmouth has raged for years - how much do locals who pay council tax actually get back from the festival? My method of analysis would suggest perhaps very little - it is a challenge to others and so far there has been no comment of any significance. Maybe EDDC and others have gone to ground?

I agree on the food and drink angle. The shops in town can hardly cope with the demands now, they would be swamped if they became the sole providers of sustenance but this has not prevented yearly carps about stalls "taking trade away from town shops" .