Many thanks.

You have to understand that many local folk will already be working hard on this event, and I have no wish to see these honest efforts come to nothing. So I am not asking for folk not to support these efforts to bring a folk festival here, just to make their views known, to the council and to the local paper.

If those views are that they will not support a local authority with such an uncaring attitude and will not attend (or perform) until this attitude changes, that is the way it will be. The local folk will just have to accept these honest views and maybe then they will also put some pressure on the council? But that is up to them to decide, what is more important to them. Being true to their priciples or having a council funded festival.

I am supposed to be leading a session this year as part of the festival. If the council do not move and press home this latest enforcement, I will probably be starting an ALT festival, on Portland on these same dates. You will all be invited and made most welcome.