The internet row over charges at this year’s Arbroath Seafront Spectacular has rumbled on, with a new online group set up supporting the organisers.
A page called Support The Arbroath Seafront Spectacular has been set up on Facebook, with 29 members ‘liking’ it so far.
Its creator said the page was set up without the knowledge of the organising committee, as a show of support for their efforts, which see around £5000 donated to charity every year.
A statement read, “The page has been created to show appreciation to the volunteer organisers of the Arbroath Seafront Spectacular.
“Recently there has been a minority of people on Facebook complaining about the organisation of the event.
“This page has not been created by anyone associated with the event, it has been created by a group who simply enjoy the event and appreciate the effort involved in organising it.
“We’re not looking for a debate we’d just like you to like the page to show your support, thanks.”
The move follows criticism of the organisers of the annual show, Arbroath Events, on another Facebook page called Against Seafront Spectacular.Comments removedAt the root of the disagreement was a decision to charge £5 entry to the festival held at Victoria Park on July 23.
The Spectacular boasted acts such as motorbike stunt shows, helicopter rides and an aerobatic display and cost around £51,000 to stage, with £15,000 of that going on the acts.
Despite Arbroath Events raising substantial funds for charity each year, some locals were unhappy at being made to pay a fee, when previous years have been reduced or free entry.
The creator of Against Seafront Spectacular, Shaun Sievwright, said the points on his page are “extremely valid,” claiming the costings do not match up to the overall £51,000 that was spent creating the day.
Facebook user Sandy Kippling claimed he had posted several comments on Mr Sievwright’s site which had now disappeared.
“I posted around 15 comments on the Against Seafront Spectacular Group, largely in support of the event and the organisers,” he said.
“These comments were removed without warning or comment, one is assuming, by the group organiser, this Shaun Sievwright, and I have subsequently been in contact with other people, including Mason Storm, who also tell me that their comments were removed without explanation.”
He added, “It appears to me, from what I can see, that the group is being moderated in such a way as to remove positive comments about the event and present an entirely negative viewpoint.”‘One-sided’Mr Kippling said, “What the casual observer looking at the group sees is being manipulated by the group administrator to make it so very one-sided.
“I have spoken to one user who said they removed all of their comments, in part due to the way what they were saying was being manipulated.”
Arbroath Events must pay for health and safety costs such as hiring toilets, barriers, insurance and cleaning-up, in order to stage the show each year.
Charges from Angus Council 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.
Tayside Police also charged an agreed fee to cover the show with around 10 officers.