Loss-hit wood fair is scrapped

Organisers have shelved a popular Mid Wales fair after suffering heavy losses at last year's event.

The Powis Wood Fair, held at Powis Showground, Welshpool, lost £20,000 last year after the second day of the two-day event had to be cancelled because of poor weather.

The losses, coupled with the recession, have led to the fair organisers cancelling this year's event. Lachlan Macewan, organiser, said: "The two day event is normally held on a Saturday and Sunday, but because of the flooding and extreme wet weather conditions last year we had to cancel the Sunday event.

"We ended up making a loss of about £20,000 and we were devastated.

"We always take out wet weather insurance, but we have only been able to get just more than £4,000 of what we lost back. We're hoping the insurance will be able to pay out more because the event still owes people money.

"We have therefore had to make a tough decision to cancel this year's event, because it wouldn't be right going ahead with it when we still owe people money."

A statement on the event website says: "We are sorry we have had to take this decision, but due to the economic climate this year and last year's bad weather, we just cannot go ahead."

The event is aimed at getting people to discover woodlands, with demonstrations including chainsaw sculptures, musical instruments made from wood, and woodland craft. This year's wood fair, which had been scheduled for September 5 and 6, would have been the 10th.

Mr Macewan said: "We are sorry we have had to take this decision.

"However, we would will look again at the situation at the beginning of next year and with any luck we will be able to go ahead with the wood fair next year."

He said: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and we trust we will be able to rely on your support again in the future.

"We've never made a loss at the event before now, but, then again, we've never made a profit either. We just hold it to promote Welsh wood."

Councillor Alan Crowe, Welshpool Town Council member, said he hoped the show would "bounce" back, adding: "Hopefully, things will have improved by next year and the event won't be lost forever."

By Anwen Evans