Policy review after anger over Telford carnival bill for park
A council is reviewing its policies and has agreed to waive fees for use of a public park amid claims volunteers were charged to stage a town's carnival.
Members of the Wellington Carnival committee say they were charged £105 by Telford & Wrekin Council to use Bowring Park earlier this month, and claim they had to pay £137 for a street trading licence so stallholders could operate.
They say it is the first time they have been charged to use the park, and the decision has been branded "daylight robbery" by the town's mayor.
But council officials have said the charge has been waived – and will not be enforced at any future carnivals. Councillor Angela McClements, cabinet member for communities, said the policy for charging charities – which came into force in April – was now being reviewed across the borough.
Joan Jones, of the carnival committee, confirmed she had sent a cheque off last week for £105 for the hire of Bowring Park. She said she had heard nothing about the fees being waived and had not had the cash returned to her.
She said: "Considering our total budget was only just over £3,000 this year, being asked to pay nearly £250 for ground hire and a street trading licence is a lot of money. The money is being paid to Telford & Wrekin Council. We are paying them, when in fact it should be the other way around and they should be supporting us."
Councillor Phil Morris-Jones, mayor of Wellington, said a "few hard-working individuals" worked hard to put the event on. "I was absolutely horrified on speaking to the organisers to be told that Telford & Wrekin Council now makes a charge to charities of over £100 per day for the use of the ground," he said. "This is daylight robbery as every £1 charged is £1 less for the charity."
