PETERSFIELD'S Christmas Festival has been axed by East Hampshire District Council.
The popular three-day event, which attracted thousands of shoppers into the town in 2008 and 2009, was scrapped this week because of financial constraints.
A decision was made following a meeting held by EHDC on Monday.
Councillors felt a short
age of sponsorship money, traditionally drawn from local businesses, meant it was highly unlikely the festival would break even.
They were worried running the festival this December would pull valuable resources away from the council's core services.
EHDC leader Cllr David Parkinson said: "It would be wrong to spend money on a festival at a time when we are looking to make efficiency savings across all our services.
"We know the decision will be met with disappointment.
"We are disappointed ourselves not to have the means to deliver the festival in 2010, but it is already clear the sponsorship on which the event relies, drawn from the local business community, will understandably be reduced.
"We always have difficult choices to make at East Hampshire District Council and ultimately the demands of our core services must take priority," he added.
Although the festival has been withdrawn in 2010 its return to the town centre in future years remained a possibility.
However, the council's decision to axe the event was criticised by the organiser of the Petersfield Festivities and Petersfield Food Festival, Philip Haines.
He feels the event is financially viable despite the tough economic climate.
He said: "It is extremely disappointing to see this large event cancelled, but the reasons for cancellation don't make sense.
"Petersfield Events has raised more in sponsorship this year than ever before, and plans its own events to break-even – while at the same time raising thousands of pounds for charities and EHDC itself.
"The real problem is that councils are not event organisers and they should have left this to people with experience.
"Instead they came into the marketplace with little planning or consultation with the business community, spending tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money, and have now exited just as quickly."
Mr Haines added: "Organising big events in town takes lots of time and energy, cajoling, persuading, pleading and knocking heads together – not something the council is best placed to do."
