Sparks fly over cuts to Leicester festivals' funding
Plans to scrap or cut council funding for a series of festivals and celebrations have been criticised.
Yesterday, the Mercury revealed that city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby was proposing to halve the £20,000 grant given to the Leicester Hindu Festivals Council (LHFC) so it can run a Navratri celebration at De Montfort Hall each year.
The city's annual Caribbean Carnival would also see its budget cut and grants to the Hindu Dashera celebration and the Humberstone Park bonfire would be cancelled next year in measures expected to be rubber-stamped by the mayor on November 16.
Maganbhai Patel, president of the LHFC, said the moves would upset the city's sizeable Hindu population.
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He said: "I think the mayor needs to be aware that this is an insult to Hindus.
"Some 2,000 people signed a petition when it was suggested the funding would be cut, but that doesn't seem to matter.
"The mayor has told us we will still get a cheap rate to hire De Montfort Hall, but we have had that for years anyway.
"We pay about £45,000 a year to the council to hire De Montfort Hall."
Sir Peter said the event that gets the biggest council grant – the Diwali celebration marked by Hindus – is to retain its £88,000 funding and there would be a further £28,000 for Diwali lights along the Belgrave Road.
He said: "There will be some money for Navratri, but it is important I and my assistant mayors are able to make hard decisions when we have to."
Councillor Barbara Potter, who represents Humberstone, was furious the bonfire was to lose its entire £16,000.
She said: "The mayor needs to know I will fight this because there is very little for people on estates on the eastern part of the city. People here will be extremely upset."
Coun Potter said this year's bonfire, on November 5, had been under- promoted.
She said: "There have been no posters or anything. That will mean fewer people going and I am sure that will be used as a justification for cancelling it.
"People will go out and start their own bonfires on parks. They will defy the council and do exactly what we want to avoid. The fire brigade will have to go out and it will end up costing more money."
Sir Peter said the council would help any volunteers who wanted the bonfire to continue.
The Caribbean Carnival will see its £100,000 funding cut to £80,000 next year then £60,000 after that.
Organiser Sugar Christopher said: "We are not happy about it but we know there have to be cuts. I even agree with some of them.
"We will just have to go back to the drawing board and see what we can do with the budgets that remain."
In all the council festivals budget will fall from £366,500 to £288,000 by 2014.
Comments
by karinfall1955
Friday, November 02 2012, 2:56PM
“@foxes75. Just a small observation. Trolls are anonymous and usually intend upsetting people. I, however, am neither. I genuinely find most religion baffling and some much more so than others. I also don't think religious celebrations should be funded in times of hardship. Not a troll, just someone with an opinion.”
by MusicalK
Friday, November 02 2012, 2:55PM
“Barticus - I thought fireworks originated in China? I know loads of English people who enjoy Diwali - some because they are Sikh or Hindu and some because they just enjoy the atmosphere.
However, I do agree that your post shouldn't have been removed.”
by Barticus4
Friday, November 02 2012, 2:28PM
“I see my previous comment has been removed so much for freedom of speech.
My kids where so upset when I told them there was no fireworks on Braunstone park this year due the council cutting the funding. Oh well will have to take them to see a foreign celebration instead with a firework display because lets face it anything English in Leicester is frowned upon by the council now! If it had been the other way around and funding was cut to Melton rd lets face it they would have been an uproar! but dont worry about the English people they wont mind!”
by foxes_75
Friday, November 02 2012, 1:52PM
“As a hindu, i dont really mind the cuts, Navrati will still come round every year and smaller celebrations happen every year and will continue....Im sure Moganbhai can still think of ideas to organise a smallercelabration with the size of the budget set for next year. As for Karin, your comments are pretty stupid, insulting and sick....you may not believe in god but dont mock those you do, if you have no interest, mind your own business...this thread dont need trolls like yourself”
by MusicalK
Friday, November 02 2012, 1:46PM
“Barticus - what a ridiculous argument!
"You can tell what race our council are cant you!" Diwali is celebrated by Sikhs and Hindu - neither of these are 'races'.
"bonfire night is part of English history but is now being sidelined for forgien religions" - bonfire night is actually a celebration of a terrorist activity. Which religion is NOT foreign?
Don't use the Council's mismanagement of funds as an excuse for hatred.”
by georgey2011
Friday, November 02 2012, 1:28PM
“I dont see why these events, festivals etc should be funded by the taxpayer when we are in enough of an economic crisis as it is.”
by kotecha1
Friday, November 02 2012, 1:11PM
“As a hindu, I'm happy for the funding for Navratri to be completely removed as there are numerous venues across Leicester holding "better" celebrations that all are welcome to attend. I'm a little dissappointed about the withdrawl of funding for the Dashera celebrations. It's the only one held in all of Leicestershire and very well attended.”
by davidh11
Friday, November 02 2012, 1:05PM
“Why doesn't SPS allow us to vote if we want to keep him in power, an endorsement from the people of Leicester ?”
by democrat
Friday, November 02 2012, 12:39PM
“Fortunately Sir Peter has found enough funds to reward his 'Executive Team' for their sterling support.
Times maybe tough but we will have some very green street lights (£14 million), Petes Potted Plant Park (£4 million) and some bikes that no-one needs or will use (£2 million).
One Leicester?”
by Bob491
Friday, November 02 2012, 12:27PM
“The Con government deliberately and hugely cut the grants to the bigger towns and cities to deprive their less wealthy citizens of many vital and necessary services.
However it is good that the council grant to the important Diwali festival has been maintained, since it brings in many thousands of people to Leicester and highlights the importance of the city in the UK.”