Show can't go on as Wem Town Hall asks for cash
Organisers of a charity event in Shropshire have been left with nowhere to host it after bosses of the previous venue asked them to stump up the cash to hire it for the first time.
Mother and daughter, Christine and Tracy Fletcher, design and make copies of costumes worn in top Hollywood movies and usually showcase their work at exhibitions staged at Wem Town Hall.
For the last two years the pair have used the hall free of charge and been able to collect donations for the Rabbit Welfare Association.
But this year town hall bosses have asked them to pay up to £100 to hire it for the day, which the pair say they cannot afford.
They are now appealing for help in finding a venue they can use for free for a day.
Town hall bosses said they hoped the pair would cover the hire cost themselves this time after not charging them previously.
Mrs Fletcher, who lives in Wem, said: "Regrettably we are not in a position to pay.
"Our exhibition is all about showing our replica movie costumes to anyone who is interested, with free entry to see them. We usually have collection tins available for people to donate to the Rabbit Welfare Association.
"We are now without a hall or community centre to show our costumes this year and I am appealing for help to allow us to use someone's premises for free for a day."
Sue Gainsborough, director of Wem Town Hall, said: "The decision to cover the hire costs was made by myself and Rose Manley because at that time we had special funding from Screen WM. We do not have any funding that could cover the hire costs now."
Among the costumes the pair have made are several worn by Natalie Portman as Queen Padme Amidala from Star Wars and Rapunzel from the Disney version.
Anyone who can help is asked to email padmepastel@aol.com
