Organisers and supporters of an under-fire Angus show are preparing to hit back at online critics.
Arbroath Events, the group behind the town’s popular Seafront Spectacular, will today break its silence on what has been branded a “petty” attempt to smear the reputation of the well-established festival, via social networking website Facebook.
More than 100 people have signed up to a protest page under the heading Against Seafront Spectacular, where it was claimed an unfair fee was charged to gain access to the event held at Victoria Park.
Arbroath Community Council chairwoman Pat Millar said the criticism was unfair and branded the setting up of the online group a “kick in the teeth” for the “honourable” members of the organising committee.
She added, “I have known the people who organise the Seafront Spectacular for a number of years and their raison d’etre has always been to provide entertainment for local people and visitors.
“They are not trying to make big bucks out of it for themselves, or get their names in the paper it has always been simply to put on a show for the people of Arbroath.
“There are ways of putting your point across other than setting up an online site, and we must remember that nobody is being forced to go to this event if they don’t want to.”
The Seafront Spectacular cost £5 for adults and £2 for children and the organisers stressed it took more than £51,000 to stage the extravaganza this year, with acts including stunt riders, aeroplane displays and helicopter rides.
A percentage of the total is taken up by health and safety costs, such as hiring toilets, barriers and insurance, with the acts themselves costing around £15,000.
Although the show took place on July 23, site members yesterday continued to post comments, with some putting the blame for the costs at the door of Angus Council.
Charges from the council in relation to the Seafront Spectacular included £31 for a public entertainment licence, a public notice in The Courier to advertise road traffic arrangements on the day, and a charge for waste management of approximately £90.
There were also two occasional licences granted in relation to the event at a charge of £10 each, and there was no charge for the use of Victoria Park.
The council provided support and advice to the organisers on issues such as statutory health and safety provision.
To support the event, the local authority has provided community grant funding of £5000 in 2008, £3100 in 2009 and £1180 last year.
The money was handed over in line with the community grants policy for such initiatives, which sees a boost granted over three years on a decreasing basis, with the aim of enabling events to become established and self-financing.
Police confirmed they had arranged a fee with Arbroath Events for covering the show however, only part of that was charged for.
Around 10 officers were deployed, with the usual flat rate for such festivals set at £38 per day for a constable and £45 for a sergeant.