ok before this decends into the old who said what who did this or that, a very good idea is for all those concerned follow raffles idea and write to the organisers, just to see what happens, dont let this thread become a negative lets all try and make a positive move to help the organisers instead of berating people for honest personal opinions, then perhaps the machine can be guided in a multi faceted direction, it will be impossible to make any festival all things to all persons, but surely if voices of concern a raised the machine must listen. go on folks give it a try. i know many many people will not be going to broadstairs this year, but hey lets hear what they have to say before making the final decision.
Ok raffles as you say many locals think its great, thats a positive but sadly many attendees dont, thats a negative , both side have to be looked at and understood, the glass is not always half full as it can also be half empty, thats a fact. the old well nothing happened to me, therefore all is well with the world is just one factor, things did happen in the negative so thats the balance. i dont think anyone is deliberatly slagging broadstairs , but as you say writing to the organisers is a very good start.