I recommend the websites www.eastbournefestival.co.uk and www.eastbournefestivallive.com

It's possible that this could be the first and last festival; such is the disinterest from the new council.

I hear the working group who have done the majority of the work in putting the event together to make this happen, are planning next year already – and that's great news, and they should be supported.

Sadly the council seem to have chucked this superb embryo of a project onto the scrapheap before it's even started.

I am frustrated that this council seems to have stepped back from its commitment of investing in the economy of the town.

In the last few months we have had Airbourne and Tennis downgraded with doubtful futures, the downgrading of the Conference trade in the town, the Town Centre redevelopment halted, the cultural centre opening delayed, no progress in supporting local traders and in return all there's been is some vague discussion of a 'science park' opening in town (with no detail at all)

And in addition the Cultural Festival, which started with support from both political parties, is stripped of its' funding and support before the first event has even opened it's doors. It's a sorry state.

However, I for one still believe in our wonderful town. I strongly believe there is a massive potential market for this type of festival to serve initially as a celebration of community in the town, but if it had a chance to develop, a major tourism attraction in the future.

OK we're not Brighton, London, Edinburgh - and that's good - we've got strengths those places would love to have. There's people in this town who could make fortunes elsewhere, but they choose to stay here, and invest in the town (and I don't just mean financially), and they do it because they love Eastbourne.

To ignore this, is just plain stupid. I would foresee that in future much of the cultural activity of the town, in all areas; literary, live music, art - all sorts of other stuff could be under a banner, with a yearly celebration, regular music festivals, celebrations of art and culture. And what better time to start than when we're just about to open the new cultural centre - something most towns of our size would love to have.

It does frustrate me that we are missing an amazing opportunity to develop this festival. It has to start somewhere. I tried to have a go when I was a councillor, but now the funding has been withdrawn.

Long term the festival will be much better under a charitable trust arrangement, so the council can be 'arms length', and it shouldn't have to cost the tax payers anything – but these things need to start somewhere. And it really is part of the councils brief to start these things off - it ticks their boxes in tourism, in community development, in economic investment and more besides.

Anyway, please enjoy and support the festival. I congratulate the Eastbourne Herald for printing and distributing the festival brochure in the paper on Friday, and I particularly congratulate East Magazine for their contribution to the festival, and the town in general.

Please support the events, and when you see your councillor, make sure they know you want to see it bought back next year!!

Have a good week.


Ian writes his own blog at www.iloveeastbourne.co.uk