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Mela to be combined with a food festival


MAIDSTONE’S Mela is to be farmed out and turned into a multi- cultural and food festival. The decision comes as the bor-


ough council’s budget cuts continue to bite and follows a lively debate by its Heritage Committee. Members heard from the council’s


head of commercial and economic development, Dawn Hudd, who said this year’s Mela ran over budget and was visited by fewer people after being moved from Mote Park into town. She added that the name Mela was also “either not under- stood, or associated with one ethnic group rather than recognised as a multi-cultural festival”. She suggested a two- or three-day


event, combined with a food festival might be better. Members agreed to develop the


idea, outsourcing the event to an ex- ternal provider, with a reducing council subsidy over three yearsso that it becomes self-financing and potentially profitable to the council. The committee heard that the fes-


tival, together with the Proms event at Whatman Park, cost the council more than £32,000 to stage.


The


Maidstone Mela moved into town this year, after being held in Mote Park for several years


While recommending that the council continues to support Proms in the Park, Mrs Hudd suggested charging an admission fee could al- leviate the £14,000 cost. However, members said this would be resisted – at least for another year – while al- ternative funding is investigated. It is already accepted that hiring


Mote Park for events like the Ram- blin’ Man Fair and the Big Day Out, have become important revenue earners for the council. Amember of the heritage, culture


and leisure committee wondered if the Mela event could better be changed to a community event or-


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Maidstone Christmas 2016 13


ganised locally without “interfer- ence from the council”. Cllr Mike Revell said: “Mela might


well be better as a local community event because a lot of stuff came in from the outside. I’d like to look at the whole thing again. “I’m not sure Maidstone Bor-


ough Council is as badly hit by the budget cuts as they would have you believe. To me, MBC is spend- ing as much money as it ever did. “With all these events, be it Mela


or Ramblin’ManFair, I like to know what money is going out and com- ing in. But the outgoings have to in- clude the time of the council staff.”


News Colts’ appeal


COLTS cricket is really taking off at The Mote CC, Maidstone, and anew team of 15 and 16-year-olds is to be launched next season. The club already runs teams for younger age groups and coaching for primary school-age children. Last season the number of Colts


hit a record of more than 80, and parents joined in dedicated Sunday morning sessions. Nets start at Maplesden Noakes


School on Saturday, January 7. For details call Steve Merwood on 01622 730445 or send an email to steve- merwood@aol.com.


Choral date


THE Maidstone Choral Union per- forms a Celebration ofTwelfth Night at the United Reformed Church in Week Street on January 6. Donations arewelcome at the free


event, which starts at 7.30pm, and is followed by mulled wine and mince pies.


Signing choir


A UNIQUE pastime will be coming to Maidstone in the New Year. Vision Communication’s signing


choir helps participants learn sign language through music. Maidstone residents can join-


weekly sessions at the YMCA, Crip- ple Street, from 7pm on January 10.


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