Town councillors have controversially decided to withhold grant funding from a popular local group which organises a series of free outdoor concerts – because they say it does not hold enough events in Highbridge.
CADS (the Burnham and Highbridge Cultural Arts and Development Society) organises a series of outdoor musical events each year, such as this month’s Party In The Park (pictured right).
CADS has this month applied to the Town Council for its grant funding to lay on the regular events – however councillors on the Policy and Finance Committee decided that because no event has been held in Highbridge during recent years it will only be allocated half the grant funding.
The council is giving just £650 to CADS instead of the full £1,350 requested with the remaining amount to be paid when a Highbridge event is organised.
A town council spokesman explained to Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Concern was expressed that whilst grants had been provided to CADS in previous years to offer three events in Burnham and one in Highbridge, the Highbridge event has not materialised.”
“The reasons put forward by CADS – poor support and difficult in finding an appropriate venue – were noted but nevertheless there was clearly an issue for the Town Council in allocating public funds to an event that was not delivered.”
CADS Chairman Mike Murphy told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We hope to hold two events in Highbridge this year – one in June and another in August. We hold several free events a year for the benefit of people in both Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge.”
The next CADS event is scheduled to take place on June 12th with Jazz and Swing in the Park, followed on July 10th by Picnic In the Park – both of which are due to take place in Burnham’s Manor Gardens.
