Disgraceful to growers

I wonder how many exhibitors, with their giant onions and leeks, flowers and other vegetables turned up at the Seaburn Centre blissfully unaware of the demise of the Sunderland Horticultural show.

We all know that the Government is using the deficit caused by the greed of bankers as an excuse to dismantle the welfare state and slash funding to Labour councils.

We appreciate that cuts have to be made, and that the Seaburn and Houghton Feast shows are probably victims of the cuts.

However, what I find particularly distasteful is the disgraceful way in which these events were cancelled without warning, explanation or apology to exhibitors.

Sadly, this seems typical of this council, which uses the ‘mushroom method’ of communication and takes the electorate for granted.

Growing leeks and onions, dahlias and chrysanths etc to show standard is 12 months work.

Beds have to be dug, manure and fertiliser added, seeds and plants have to be bought, you need a heated greenhouse.

The plants need to be fed, watered and sprayed in the garden.

A lot of hard work and expense, only to find that the show has been cancelled at the last minute.

There is no excuse for the council not to have informed all exhibitors that the shows had been cancelled. The council has a full mailing list of all exhibitors which it could have used as they seem to have an embargo on using the Echo to inform the public of their decisions.

Well, here’s one Labour supporter who will not be voting Labour at the next local elections.

Name withheld