I'm at a loss to see how, if you don't have the support of the local council and chamber of commerce, how you can ever expect to raise that sort of financial backing.

I am all in favour of keeping any festival going but sometimes you have to see the whole picture and either (to use current jargon) 'downsize' or retreat & reform later.

It's interesting to quote a local politician from Fareham following the phenominally successful move of the Easter Festival from Gosport to that fair (?) town a few years ago

Following one of the best Easters that the local traders had experienced (and I quote) "in 30 years" the organiser attended the local council meeting to request the same take place the following year.

After reports from the police etc saying that the massive influx of over 4000 extra people there had been no additional adverse behavioral problems within the town - A councillor stood up and said (Again I quote) " This seems a very successful festival - Do we REALLY want it on our doorstep"

Now THAT is the sort of attitude that festival organisers (that is everyone from teh Steve Heap/Peter Chegwyn type festivals right down to your local Solent Song & Ale - just outside Southampton) have to deal with.

It was already mentioned about the holidaymakers who frequent Sidmouth at that time of the year - the local traders/B&B's etc can earn more from the 'grockles' than from the festival - If it was YOUR