The future of this year’s Festival of Lights looks uncertain this week after organisers accused Market Drayton Town Council of “interference” in last November’s event.
At a Chamber of Trade meeting on Monday, several organisers said they would not be involved in this year’s festival on November 27.
One of those, chamber treasurer Nicola Docksey, claimed town council staff intervened to cancel orders for sound and lighting equipment and gave contractors wrong information about the event.
Chamber members are to meet next month to discuss the festival’s future and decide whether to organise an event separate from Market Drayton’s annual Christmas lights switch-on in High Street.
Nicola said: “In 2007 and 2008, the Festival of Lights was hard work and most of us involved lost a lot of money from our businesses.
“We also sacrificed a hell of a lot of family time in what is potentially a very busy period for all of us.
“To have counter-productive, childish and unnecessary behaviour from town councillors and certain individuals is the last thing you need when trying to do something good for no personal gain of your own.
“We all want to make the Festival of Lights grow but there’s no way we can do that with the interference of the town council.”
Another chamber member, Sharon Fox-Byrne, said: “For the past two years, we’ve put on an incredible event with very little money and only half a dozen volunteers to assist us.
“In my opinion, the town council gave very little help to the Festival of Lights last year and if it’s involved again this year, with the same attitude towards chamber members and the people of Market Drayton, then we don’t want to put all our time and effort into organising an event where there are likely to be interruptions and blame being passed on.”
Town councillors were due to meet last night to discuss this year’s Christmas lights switch-on and festival organisers’ complaints.
Deputy town clerk Julie Jones said: “The town council understands that there were problems with last year’s event but as far as we’re concerned, we want to look forward to this year and we’re all working hard to make the Festival of Lights as successful as possible and a nice event for the town.”
Chamber of Trade chairman and Market Drayton mayor Councillor Roy Aldcroft said he hoped next month’s organisers’ meeting would help resolve matters and ensure that this year’s Festival of Lights takes place.”
By Winston Brown
