Plug pulled on the Prom as cuts bite
JON MACPHERSON
COUNCIL funding cuts have been blamed for the cancellation of a popular annual summer proms concert.
The Prom in the Park event in Great Harwood has been held annually since 2004 and around 300 people attended last year, featuring the famous ‘Besses O’Th’ Barn Band’.
However, the organisers Friends of Memorial Park (FoMP) have confirmed they have decided not to hold a concert this year because Hyndburn council cuts mean no funding for summer or winter bedding plants.
Council bosses say they are trying to keep costs down and introduce “sustainable horticulture”.
They have confirmed the cuts will affect all parks across the borough.
Ian Wilkinson, chairperson of FoMP, said that as a result this year’s Prom event will not go ahead.
He said: “There will be no Prom in the Park this year. If the council can’t put flowers in the park we will not bother putting the prom on. It’s been a very popular event. We normally get several hundred people coming but we just felt if they can’t be bothered then we can’t.
“There will be no summer or winter bedding plants in the gardens this year. No hanging baskets, no flower tubs.
“In our case we have two flower beds which were going to be grassed over. We have said we don’t want to lose them and have decided we will put something in those flower beds ourselves like roses. The council expect us to look after them otherwise they will grass them over.
“What they could’ve done is got rid of the Green Flag parks which cost money as they have to use special chemicals and maintain them to a higher standard.
“They could’ve put the flowers in instead.”
Over the last few years the Prom has been marshalled by members of the Royal British Legion branch in Great Harwood.
Jeff Bridges, of the group, said: “It’s sad that it won’t be on this year and I think most of Great Harwood will be upset that it’s not happening.”
Tory councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “I think it’s very sad that this is not on the council agenda as they brighten the place up and help create that better felling for the townships.
“We certainly need to see some flowers in the parks.”
Coun Ken Moss, Hyndburn council’s cabinet member for parks, said: “This is part of our plan to introduce sustainable horticultural features in our parks to keep costs down, by planting flower- ing herbaceous plants or bulbs which will bloom year on year.”
Council leader Miles Parkinson said they can no longer afford to carry out the same planting works as in previous years.
He said: “It is looking holistically at the parks and what is essential and not essential and living within the budget which is shrinking. We want to make sure the parks have a good display. Previously it might have been with bulbs but we are now looking at something which is longer lasting and gives colour throughout the year.
“Unfortunately cost savings have to be made and we can’t keep planting up flower beds year in, year out, to the extent that the council used to do. But that’s not detracting from the fact that we still want a good display within all our parks. We just have to change to other ways of doing that.”