DANCE SCHOOL FEEL ‘PRICED OUT’ AFTER HALL COST INCREASES 33%
2021 competition now major doubt
A DANCE school has hit out at council bosses – after the cost of hiring the King’s Hall rose by a whopping 33 per cent.
The annual Shaftesbury Dance School event and inter-school competition has been running for 10 years and brings together more than eight schools, dance groups and 500 families. It finishes with an evening social dance for adults.
But co-owners Bryl and Margaret Berry say the event may not go ahead in 2021 after Stoke-on-trent City Council told them it will cost an extra £750 to hire the Stoke venue next year.
Congleton businessman Bryl said: “Obviously we could not do the event this year due to Covid but we have always had it on the first weekend of July so we booked for 2021.
“At first the council said they didn’t know what the costings would be.
“But then they came back with a £750 increase. We can’t absorb that amount of money.
“We don’t make any money off it anyway, it’s a community event to bring people together.
“Most of the attendees are Stoke-on-trent taxpayers so they feel they’re already paying for the upkeep of the hall. But when they want to use it, they’re priced out of it.
“I know it’s a big place and a day out but they’re talking over £3,000.”
The dance school had been due to pay £2,830 for the cancelled 2020 event – and believed the council would honour that booking for 2021. It usually charges £9 a ticket.
Co-owner Margaret added: “You get the feeling the council does not want anybody to use the King’s Hall – bar big expensive weddings where money is no object.”
Latest figures show the council is expecting its income to fall by £17.5million in future years due to the long-term impact of the coronavirus crisis.
The Sentinel has contacted the council for a statement regarding its King’s Hall pricing structure.