A new venue and route and the support of local businesses should help make Ross-on-Wye Carnival a success, but a loss of funding will need to be addressed after it lost money last year, says the organising chairman.
Mel Hodges is hoping the financial fortunes improve for the colourful spectacle this Saturday, August 7, and that its costs can be covered in the coming years.
“We did not receive the £500 grant from Herefordshire Council last year and we won’t be getting any funding from them in the future,” he told the Journal.
“So with this loss and with fewer stalls being able to make it due to the bad weather, we lost out on the financial side.
“Unfortunately our costs were just the same. We have been given £850 by Ross Town Council this year but the funding will be something we will need to address in the future.”
Mel is hoping the success of the new venue will bring in more stallholders.
Last year they were forced to make an emergency decision on the eve of the carnival because of a flooded riverside. Rather than cancel they switched the venue to the Ropewalk, which Mel says proved popular.
“All the stallholders said it was a better venue because there is no road going through the middle of it, so you can see what everyone is doing and be involved. We intend to use the Ropewalk as our venue for the future.
“It is larger than the previous site so this will take a lot more to fill, but we have had a good request for stalls this year and, although we have loads we can accommodate some more – we don’t want to turn people away.” He is also mindful that the new route adopted so the parade finishes at the new venue might catch people off guard.
Floats will leave Ashburton Industrial Estate at 1pm and go to Morrison’s roundabout, then Cantilupe Road, Gloucester Road, Broad Street, Brookend Street, Fiveways, Millpond Street, back to the Morrison’s roundabout and Cantilupe Road and Gloucester Road then along High Street, Eddie Cross Street, Trenchard Street and on to Homs Road car park.
“It is a much longer procession this year and there are lots of new floats so it should be a great day out,” Mel said.
Carnival princess Adele Brooke is hoping for clement weather so she can enjoy her moment in the spotlight without the need for an umbrella. There will be plenty of stalls and activities on the carnival field including a dog show and birds of prey display. The Lions’ Duck Race will take place on the river near the Hope & Anchor pub at 4pm.