Festival could be scrapped in council quarrel

Photo: David Butterworth

Feel Good Event

The Rochdale Feel Good Festival could be scrapped after councillors condemn what they think are “shocking” costs.

The Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee is to meet on Monday to discuss the future of the annual event, which could take as much as £100,000 out of the Township pot, as well as admission charges, for some events.

The Feel Good Festival is an eight-day event between 3-11 July, with a variety of music performances, creative art events, history tours and walks.

The committee could send the matter back to Rochdale Township for another vote, which, if opposed, could lead to the event not going ahead.

Councillor Pat Flynn claims she was lead to believe it would be a free festival, but has discovered plans for admission charges of £5 and £3 for some individual events, which she says is an “insult to the people of Rochdale”.

Admission charges are planned for the Rhythms of Rochdale event (£3), Soloists in Concert (£5), Karibu (£5), Bollywood @ Backdoor, (£5), Rochdale’s Music and Lunchtime (£3), and Skylight Cabaret (£5).

Councillor Flynn said: “We have been mislead and misguided about this whole situation.

“It’s turned into a big money making event and that is an insult to the people of Rochdale who are struggling for cash at this moment in time.

“I only need to look around my own ward in Castleton to see that there are potholes, footpaths and carriageways which need fixing; surely money should be directed to things like this as a priority”.

Chair of Rochdale Township, Councillor William Hobhouse, defended his plans.

He said: “People say that Rochdale Town Centre is dying on its feet. This Festival will give us a chance to be proud of what we can achieve in Rochdale.

“Rochdale Township is funding this festival as part of its commitment to the Town Centre, to community cohesion and to feeling good about Rochdale.

“Nearly all festival events are free. The events at Back Door Music will have a charge, just like their normal Friday entry charge”.

Funding

Councillor Hobhouse added: “Rochdale Township has planned and consulted on the Festival over a 9 month period. £65,000 funding was approved in July 2008, Councillors attended the initial planning meeting in August.

“There was a presentation and questions at the Rochdale Township meeting in September, and this March, Township voted by 13 votes to 9 to increase the budget from £65,000 to £100,000.

“I am not clear what parts of the programme Councillor Flynn wishes to cut as part of her call in.

“It should also be said that repairing potholes and carriageways are funded from the Council's Highways Budget, and not by the Township, so it is wrong to say that we would repair footpaths, potholes and carriageways instead of funding the Feel Good Festival”.