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Plug could be pulled on the carnival

Jonathon Dillon
20/ 1/2005

THE future of Accrington's famous carnival is hanging in the balance.

Organisers may be forced to pull the plug on the event, which has been running for over 80 years, as it is becoming harder to raise funds.

The carnival costs around £15,000 to put on every two years.

Earlier this month it received £3,000 from the North Lancs Training Group, but organisers are still struggling to find £5,000 after Hyndburn Council unexpectedly knocked back a bid for funding.

Accrington Lions, who have organised the event since 1989, usually receive funding from the authority's leisure services department to pay for safety measures, such as road closures and barriers.

This time the Lions were asked to seek funding from Peel and Barnfield Area Council. But with only £970 in the area council coffers, the bid was turned down.

Carnival chairman Ray Pullinger said the event, which raises thousands of pounds for worthy causes, was now under threat afer this year.

He said: "This is the Accrington Carnival, not the Accrington Lions' Carnival. We are just the organisers. We have always organised it in partnership with the council, but it has left everything to us.

"Our members are getting older and if we don't get the full co-operation of the council, we will look at whether it is viable for us to continue.

"We were told to apply to the area councils for cash but the message hasn't got through. There has been a breakdown in communication somewhere."

Carnival fever is set to sweep into Accrington on 18 June with a range of floats, fairground rides and shows at Peel Park Primary School's playing fields.

Mr Pullinger added: "We need the cash to pay for the health and safety measures. We cannot skimp on those but they cost a lot of money.

"If the council does nothing, then our members will have to consider whether to organise another one.

"It is a long-running carnival and we want to keep it going. It has put Hyndburn on the map."

Following last Thursday's area council meeting, Councillor Tony Dobson agreed to speak to Mr Pullinger next month in a bid to find a solution.