Move the Mela back to town park
Sports editor Political editor Supplements editor Sunday would have been the 14th annual Maidstone Mela, had Maidstone Borough Council not overrode this great, free entry family and community event and replaced it this year with a “street event” in the town centre.
This change and move to the town centre is largely unpopular with the public, Mela volunteers, some councillors, two former mayors and the police.
Maidstone Mela is a local success story with a perfect location of Mote Park. Last year’s festival was busier than ever attracting 20,000, yet out of the blue, MBC decided the event should be moved to the town centre on the questionable grounds it was somehow flagging which contradicts the success and attendance of last year’s event.
As has happened with other popular events such as the Maidstone River Festival I fear MBC wishes to look for a way to discontinue this event. Business editor What’s On reporter
This year founding contributors will boycott the town centre event in protest regarding these unpopular changes.
Maidstone Mela brings all sections of the community together and is needed more than ever in these turbulent times.
It is all too easy for faceless MBC staff to implement such kentonline editor kentonline news editor shortsighted, destructive changes and then the same people move on to work for other councils after terminating important community celebrations.
I sincerely hope MBC return this great community festival to Mote Park for the public to enjoy in 2017. Ed Logan Tonbridge Road, Maidstone