Cuts likely to ‘menu’ of Food Festival

From The News 4th January 2008 

A POPULAR food festival is likely to be scaled down to keep disgruntled residents happy.

 Many people were devastated after the shock announcement that this year’s Emsworth Food Festival was being cancelled so that organisers could take stock before the 2009 event. Now festival chairman Lulu Bowerman has said she thinks it likely the festival will continue on a smaller scale in the future.

There had been complaints from some traders and residents about the impact on the town of the event, which attracts more than 50,000 visitors. And Ms Bowerman said it was clear from speaking to people in Emsworth that the demonstrations, wine tasting, marquees, classes and celebrity chefs, and Ms Bowerman admitted she was very disappointed people had not shown more interest in those aspects. `I was stunned. It is really strange not to have people talking about the other bits that we worked so hard to run, but that doesn’t seem to be what they want.’ She said it had got to the stage where action had to be taken to address the concerns of people who did not support the festival. A petition was being got up, and some committee members were getting abuse in the street. `We can’t just steam roller people into having it,’ she said. ‘It was becoming really divisive in the community. `It was a very difficult decision to do it. It was a very emotional moment for me. You give your heart and soul to it but some times you just have to be grown up and responsible.’ Scores of people have posted disappointed comments on the food festival web site. One member of the Emsworth business community said on the website: ‘I am so saddened and amazed at the decision to not do the food festival next year. `How can we abandon the best thing that has happened for Emsworth businesses ever? `Please reconsider. Don’t let a few vociferous moaners ruin it for us all.’  

jenny.haworth@thenews.co.uk