Councillor defends cut to Carnival funding
COUNCILLOR Frank Pearce has defended his decision not to give £1,000 from county council coffers towards next month's Hayling Carnival.
The Conservative who was elelcted last summer turned down a request from organizers Hayling Lions who were given a 1,000 in each of the last two years by his predecessor Ted Gale.
The carnival committee used the 1,000 grant to book entertainment for the event, which draws thousands of people to the seafront arena and along the Carnival procession route.
Each county councillor is allocated 10,000 a year to dish out to local good causes.
But Cllr Pearce has told them he will not be giving them the money.
He cited Hampshire County Coucil rules given to each member, which dictate that grants should be one-offs only - and should NOT fund events such as carnivals.
But Lions organiser Marilyn Skennerton is angry that the community event will suffer because they had expected Cllr Pearce to continue the tradition started by Mr Gale.
She said: "If it's true about the rules why was Ted able to give it to us?
"We have not been able to speak to Frank since he told us we couldn't have the money despite calling and writing to him twice to put the reasons in black and white.
"Each year we raise between 5,000 to 6,000 for the community. It all goes back into Hayling.
"Without this money we can't book the marching band and the arena events are half full.
"We want to put on a professional show and there will be a backlash if it is not up to the usual high standards."
Cllr Pearce responded by saying he and his family have supported the carnival since the 1960s.
Since May he has given money to Hayling Island Community Centre for an industrial oven, Eastoke Community Centre for new chairs, Hayling Island Sailing Club to teach local children, Hayling Voluntary Service and Hayling's majorettes for costumes.
He said: "The rules are clear. The carnival wasn't the only request I had to turn down.
"Some people seem to think because they've had it once they're entitled to it each year but I don't agree with that."
If your business or family would like to donate to the Carnival cause, contact Mrs Skennerton on 07906 042020.
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Weather for Hayling
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
