Pop concert plan for NSPCC in Bailey Park
Abergavenny Chronicle - 16 January 2003
LIZ DAVIES REPORTS
ABERGAVENNY town councillors are to ask for further information before deciding whether to support a
proposal to stage a large scale pop concert at the town’s Bailey Park in aid of the NSPCC.
In a letter to the town council, Bryn y Cwm area manager, Dale Roberts, who presented the proposal, explained that
changes in the NSPCC’s constitution meant the hugely successful It’s a Knockout competition held in Bailey Park for
the past 11 years will not take place this year.
As a result the charity, along with a local commercial radio station, had approached Monmouthshire County Council
with a proposal to stage a pop concert which it was hoped could attract 10,000 visitors to the town.
“The event would be managed by a professional event management company with experience of running similar events
nationally and full consideration would be given to the safety and security aspects of the event,” said Mr Roberts.
Town councillors expressed concern however, that such a large scale concert in a largely residential
area could cause disturbance for people living near the park. Concern about proceeds from the event being donated to
the nationwide charity, rather than being ‘ploughed back into the town’ was also expressed.
“I’m all for Bailey Park being used as much as possible but I’m not happy about being told by the NSPCC who should
use it and where the money should go,” said Councillor Ray Hill. The proposal is to be discussed at the Bryn
y Cwm area committee today (Thursday). It was also on the agenda
of MonmouthshireCounty Council’s meeting yesterday (Wednesday) at County Hall.
In a full report due to be presented to the council’s cabinet, Mr Roberts revealed the proposal outlined by
the NSPCC and Valleys Radio would see Monmouthshire County Council providing ‘up front’
funding for the event, with proceeds from ticket sales used as income to offset costs.
The report concluded the total cost of organising the event would be around £79,000 - to include a £8,000 donation to the
NSPCC and a £1,000 fee for a volunteer co-ordinator - with the likely income to be in the region of £76,000.
“It is possible that the final outcome for the authority would be that of a financial loss. This is thought to be in the region of £3,000,
although poor ticket sales would result in a potentially higher loss,” said Mr Roberts’ report.
“The advantage of maintaining the close association with the NSPCC is that the
costs of staging the event are minimised due to the goodwill of local suppliers and labour. Without this association and
donation, the cost of organising and staging the event would be considerably increased.”
Although both ‘internal and external sponsorship’ could be
attracted, the report conceded the ‘most likely scenario’ would be a financial loss of between £3,000 and £20,000’.
It added that although that a sum
of up to £5,000 could be set aside in the annual Bryn y Cwm budget of £15,000 to accommodate any losses, ‘to date, no
budget has been identified to absorb the possible £15,000 losses if the event were to be cancelled in July’.
If given the go ahead by councillors, the event would require ‘up front
funding’ at a rate of £5,000 a month from April, which would be forfeited if the event was cancelled.
Related articles:
* Bailey Park pop concert still to be decided - 06/02/03
* Town council against Bailey Park pop concert - 20/02/03
* No pop concert this year at Bailey Park - 20/03/03
