May 1 , 2005
Burnham-On-Sea Carnival gets the go-ahead
The future of this year’s Burnham Carnival is safe after a solicitor said the organisers will not face huge fees for licences.
Uncertainty has gripped Burnham’s event and other carnivals across Somerset since it was suggested that a new licensing act could lead to charges of up to £64,000 being levied against each procession.
But Sedgemoor District Council has announced that carnivals in Somerset will not have to be licensed after all. It comes after a lawyer gave them his view that the events do not need a licence.
“This is a complicated issue that affects carnivals throughout the country,” said a council spokesman. “The law requires that each carnival has to be considered individually and there are, no doubt, carnivals elsewhere that will require a licence. However, the make-up of the main carnivals in Somerset is such that they are exempt.”
According to the legal advice, this is because Somerset’s carnivals largely involve moving floats, which do not need a licence; have costumed walkers, who do not need a licence to dress up and stroll down the street; and include majorettes, who are not dancing, but marching.
Burnham-On-Sea’s Carnival will now proceed on Monday November 7th.
RELATED LINKS:
2005 Burnham-On-Sea Carnival Guide
