downsmail.co.uk


Council pulling plug on Proms as numbers drop


ONE of Maidstone’s most recog- nisable events will no longer be running because organisers could not justify a 185% rise in ticket prices. Proms in the Park is a celebration


of classical music and community spirit, which takes place at What- man Park in the spring time. The event was due to receive


£5,000 from Maidstone Borough Council next year, before losing all public funding in 2020. In the past the even was free of


charge but ticket priceswere intro- duced for the first time this year, but officials suggested the entrance feewould need to increase by 185% tomake the occasion sustainable. Thiswouldmean that tickets that


previously cost less than £7 would be increased to £20. Other ways of raisingmoney for


the event have been considered in the past, but sponsors have not been interested, partly due to the number of people attending. Fewer than 600 adult ticketswere sold in 2018,while 300 children at-


tended for free. On October 30, MBC decided to pull the plug on the event and divert funding to the multi-cultural Community Mela festival.Acouncil report, regarding


the cancellation of the event, said: “Attendee numbers are falling, costs are rising andWhatman Park is a challenging venue due to a lack of access for temporary toilets and lack of parking. “In previous years, the audience


has been estimated between 1,200 and 2,000. “The variation each year is a re-


sult of a variety of factors including weather at the time and changes to the programme including no longer having fireworks at the fi- nale.” Cllr Paul Harper, Chairman of


the Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee for MBC said: “The £5,000 previously allocated for Proms in the Park 2019, will now be used to help fund next year’s Community Mela, as well as a number of othermusic events. “The Community Mela will


benefit from £2,500 for one year, with the remaining sum used acrossmultiple communitymusic events to be held in appropriate venues.”


News Manmugged


siing in car POLICE are asking for wit- nesses to come forward after a teenager was threatened and robbed in his car in Armstrong Road, Tovil. On Friday, October 26, at


about 3pm, three men invaded the young man’s Ford Fiesta in Tovil and asked him for cannabis, before stealing cash and a driving licence. Astatement fromKent Police


said: “Police are investigating following a report of a robbery inArmstrong Road,Maidstone between 2.45pm and 3pm on Friday, October 26. “It is reported that amanwas


sitting in his car when three men got in, threatened himand stole cash and his driving li- cence.” Enquiries are ongoing and


anyone who has any informa- tion is asked to contact 01622 604100 quoting reference YY/039015/18. Alternatively, call the inde-


pendent charity,Crimestoppers in Kent, anonymously on 0800 555111.


Maidstone December 2018


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