Hopes of securing a £10,000 boost for Leominster Festival over the next two years have crumbled.
A thumbs-down from Herefordshire Council for the event, as well as a loss of cash support for live events at Leominster’s Lion Ballroom, has led to feelings of being “demoralised and ostracised”, a town council meeting was told.
Councillor Peter Goody said: “I’m beginning to think Herefordshire Council doesn’t want to spend any money in Leominster.”
“This is a double whammy for Leominster,” said Councillor Janet Atkinson. We’ve been ostracised on two counts, which is not good.”
Brigadier Councillor Peter Jones feared that the consequences of not receiving money in this current pay-out could have a serious knock-on effect. He said: “It demoralises everybody, and this could affect a lot of cultural activities over the next few years including Leominster Choral Society, a backbone of local culture.”
Speaking at Monday night’s meeting, Herefordshire Council’s cultural services manager Jane Lewis said the decision not to award money to the festival and Lion Ballroom was not a reflection on the town. She explained that a pot of cash had shrunk, while applications have increased.
She said: “We felt there wasn’t enough connection with young people, and no evidence that audiences have grown or that the festival would grow within the next two years.”
