New charges are putting at risk the future of a historic Fife Highland Games, it has been claimed.
Markinch games date back around 200 years but committee assistant secretary Shane Fenton, who also sits on the general committee of the Scottish Highland Games Association, said organisers were told by police to stump up £600 to pay for officers’ attendance.
Mr Fenton said that following a social media backlash police offered an 80% discount and would charge £147 instead.
But he said these new financial pressures could put the long term future of the games in doubt.
He also criticised cash-strapped Fife Council for increasing charges over recent years for things like fencing and use of the pavilion at John Dixon Park.
Mr Fenton, who confirmed this year’s games will go ahead on June 7, said: “It’s fair to say that council and police money grabbing and red tape could end the Markinch games.”
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland applies a consistent policy of charging for police services for commercial events, regardless of where they take place.
“In the case of the Markinch Highland Games, the level of policing was agreed between the Fife area inspector and the organiser of the games. The final charge represents the cost of the level of staffing that both the commander and event organiser agreed upon.”
Council services manager Damien Woods said: “As a publicly funded organisation we need to prioritise our budgets to benefit all of Fife.
“The reality is there are costs associated with staffing pavilions, erecting fencing and cleaning parks. Organisers of community events need to take these costs into account.”