BURNSFEST

Shock as popular festival scrapped

One of South Ayrshire’s biggest and most popular events is being scrapped.

Council bosses are axing Burnsfest, which draws thousands each year to Rozelle Park in Ayr.

It comes only days after a study put Rabbie’s worth to the Scottish economy at £ 200m.

A council source said: “It’s a startling own goal.”

One of South Ayrshire’s biggest and most popular events is to be axed.

Burnsfest, which attracts thousands each year to Rozelle Park, is being ditched by the council.

The all- day bash in May forms a staple part of the Burns an a’ That festival.

Headliners down the years have included Midge Ure, Eddi Reader, Big Country and Chesney Hawkes.

Despite it being a huge hit with the public, council bosses are refusing to fund another gathering.

They spent £ 80,000 backing last year’s event, which was free for the public to attend.

The move has been labelled a “startling own goal” by one council source.

They said: “Most would agree that Burnsfest is a huge success.

“It is an event that attracts a wide spectrum and boasts a fantastic atmosphere.

“It shows off the best that South Ayrshire has to offer through Burns.

“It’s one of the few things we do as a council that could rightly be claimed as a good news story so to scrap it is a startling own goal.”

The news comes only days after a Glasgow University report ( see page 24) showed that Robert Burns is worth a staggering £ 200m to the Scottish econmomy and more could be done to exploit the Burns brand.

A council spokesman said: “We are proud to support a number of

Burns events throughout the year and are looking forward to kicking off a new decade and Scotland’s winter festivals with the Robert Burns Humanitarian Awards on January 22 and the Burns on the Beach celebration on January 24.

“For 2020 we are not anticipating holding Burnfest in the same format as in previous years but we are looking at the scope for a Burns fringe celebration.

“More information will be available in the spring.”