Taxpayer doesn’t pay for four-day festival (From Warrington Guardian)

Taxpayer doesn’t pay for four-day Stockton Heath festival

2:38pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in Letters

IN this climate of spending cuts use of public funds is a cause for concern.

The four-day Stockton Heath Festival event costs almost £40,000 to stage and is organised and manned entirely by unpaid volunteers. It would not exist without the backing of sponsors and we cannot thank them enough. We would like to publicly acknowledge sponsors who have agreed to back us again this year.

So far they include FDR Law, Spire Cheshire Hospital, Priestley College, Walker Begley Chartered Accountants, Capital and Provincial, Urban Building Projects, Smarts Furnishers, Johnsons Hairdressing, Coffee au Clay, Eyes Construction and Warrington Rotary Club.

In addition a large number of businesses and organisations support us with services in kind to enhance our events.

Many people are under the impression that the festival is put on by the council at taxpayers’ expense. This is certainly not the case.

The festival is a registered charity with no political affiliation and each year needs to raise money to cover its running costs.

Last year only 13 per cent of funding came from Stockton Heath and Appleton parish councils along with a Warrington Borough Council Stronger Together grant.

The rest was raised by sponsorship from local businesses, our lottery, fundraising events and ticket sales.

We also greatly appreciate the continuing support we receive from residents, without which it would not be such a success.

Stockton Heath Festival this year runs from Thursday, July 12 until Sunday, July 15.

The festival is always pleased to hear from anyone who would like to sponsor our events or become a volunteer. For further information visit stocktonheathfestival.co.uk. DEBORAH COOK Festival secretary