The following letter (not the bits in bold) was published in the Dorset Evening Echo Juanuary 9th 2003. [Before news of the ending of the New Star session]

No more unreasonable implementation?
Change in entertainment policy?

In the Echo 27th December 2002, Tom Grainger, borough council chief executive, was quoted as saying. "There's no suggestion that people's enjoyment of folk music will be spoilt by any unreasonable level of implementation over entertainment licences."

Does this statement finally mean that Weymouth and Portland' Borough Council have now changed their current unreasonably implemented policy, for a new and enlightened one? Which the all the council can be applauded for in 2003?

Does it mean that the council will never again be classing unpaid members of the public, who are making music for their own pleasure, as 'performers' in a public entertainment, for the sole purpose of preventing this activity and insisting that more than two participants will make already inspected licensed premises automatically unsafe without payment of an additional fee to the council?

Does it mean that this borough is being distanced from the same kill-joy defence of this policy given recently by the chair woman of West Dorset District Council, when they recently used this to prevent a long-running traditional performance of a traditional mumming play in two Cerne Abbas pubs?

See the front page and the Echo's call for common sense, in the editorial comment for 18th December 2002. Perhaps Mr Grainger would confirm in these pages and provide some evidence, that this change of policy, toward this common sense, is now indeed the case?

As this confirmation will ensure the support and goodwill of all folk music enthusiasts, a factor that is a necessary requirement to ensure that the council funded Weymouth Folk Festival is the success Mr Grainger and all of us, hope this year's planned event will be.

For there remains a very serious suggestion, that people's enjoyment of folk activities (and others) are being spoilt at this very moment, by an unreasonable level of implementation over entertainment licenses in this borough. And that this unreasonable policy is apparently strongly supported by all of our council's elected representatives.

Perhaps this suggestion can be specifically answered, without for once, the attempt being made to shift the blame for a clear matter of local policy onto one of the law?

Messages to the Chief Executive:
TomGrainger@weymouth.gov.uk

And copied to
echo letters
letters@dorsetecho.co.uk

http://www.weymouth.gov.uk/main.asp?svid=7&svaid=187&svapid=1581

Details above of the council's own folk festival on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's own website.