I have read with interest, and a little sadness at the above for some weeks now, and without wishing to also get involved in the wranglings, I would like to add one and one only addition.

I am neither a musician or a singer, but a lover of folk music and one of those dying breed that you all need...a member of your audience,it seems to me that the issues here are now far removed from the original and maybe good intentioned ones of opposing the new licensing rules but sadly have become all too personal and a matter of winning ones own point against the other.

I am not a member of government, therefore I do not yet know how this new legislation is going to be finally resolved, if at all even they do at this stage. I believe the efforts of lobbying M.P's and the weight of feeling in the form of petitions and media debates will hopefully have an effect on the ruling.

The sadness I have on reading the above see sawing of comments both political and personal, is that the very thing I believe needs nurturing and supporting,is being threatened. Folk clubs are few and far between, people lead busy lives and those good people who believe in the music enough to give up their time and efforts so that people like me can take great pleasure in listening to it should be encouraged not boycotted.

Folk clubs alone cannot afford to give us the pleasure of excellent festivals like last years one in Weymouth, without the support of local councils, and I for one are pleased Weymouth Pavillion believes enough in their local folk clubs and performers to still support them and give a venue for it despite their present financial problems.

If you have got this far in reading through this weighty mail, then I would ask you to aim your efforts WISELY, where it may have a real bearing, and to lobby central government to resolve this legislation favourably to local folk musicians.

Please dont kill for the future,the good relationship being built up between local people and the council, which will hopefully will give us all folk festivals for many years after this legislation has long been forgotten.