No need to be so abusive Rhyzla! For your information, I am a local shopkeeper who has (unlike most) contributed to Sidmouth Festival coffers over many years. I can tell you that some shops and pubs (especially pubs) make so much money in Festival week that it really does see us through the rest of the year. Just ask the publican who stayed long enough to make his annual profit at this year's Festival then, knowing what winter would be like, upped and left two weeks later! As for your comments about SHOW OF HANDS, read my previous e-mail again! I did not call any artistes 'half-baked' or 'poor quality substitute', I described Councillor Hughes' proposed event as 'half-baked' and a 'poor quality substitute' for what we have had in the past. I don't want to see top-quality artistes like SHOW OF HANDS turn-up and be let-down. Agreed the Festival needs the support of local residents as well as local businesses but it also needs the support of the local council and it needs someone better than Councillor Hughes to organise it.