Festival dispute continues

A week-long summer festival planned for Rochdale could be chopped into a small weekend affair due to a dispute between Liberal Democrat councillors over money.

The Feel Good Festival, planned for July, has proved controversial with a minority of councillors, but event organisers, Rochdale Town Centre Management, say the festival will inject positivity into the town centre and will give a much-needed boost for local businesses.

Live music, theatre, market stalls and celebrity appearances could all be scrapped if Rochdale Township opt for a short, scaled down event.

History

Rochdale Township previously approved the event with a vote of 13/9, but Councillor’s Pat Flynn and Barbara Todd called it in before the committee on grounds that the overall costs, of £100,000, are "too high". They believed that extra funding should be taken out of the pot, leaving £65,000.

It was decided by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that there was “insufficient information” to make a decision.

Chairman of Rochdale Township, Councillor William Hobhouse, has been pushing for the event to go ahead, and says he will remain “relentlessly positive”.

He said: “Township councillors will decide whether they wish to support a 9 day £100,000 festival, or a 2 day £65,000 festival.

“A third option would be to amend both proposals. If councillors wish to explore this third option, I would ask that they discuss their ideas with officers prior to the meeting, so that every proposal at the meeting is fully costed and itemised”. 

Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Greg Couzens said: “It was a fabulous event last year and we do not want to get rid of this wonderful festival.

“But we couldn’t understand how the budget went from (last year’s) £30,000, to £115,000, which was initially proposed.”

“There are so many other ideas we have for regeneration of the town centre”. 

A decision will be made at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday (29 April).

 

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