Mathew Street budget increased to £750,000

Mar 7 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

FUNDING for this years Mathew Street Festival has almost doubled to prevent a repeat of last years embarrassing cancellation.

The Culture Company has budgeted s750,000 for the August Bank Holiday festival compared to the s400,000 it set aside for last years ill-fated event.

The budget is set to be officially ratified after a meeting of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) which has to approve large public events.

The Daily Post understands the Culture Company will request permission from SAG to put stages at Derby Square, Water Street, Chapel Street, Tithebarn Street, Williamson Square, and the Mersey tunnel entrance at Byrom Street.

Last years outdoor Mathew Street was cancelled at the last minute because of health and safety fears, leading to a huge

outcry and claims it was the citys worst PR disaster in years.

Discussions to organise this years event started soon after the scaled-down indoor event went ahead last August.

The company that compiled the report that killed off the festival on safety grounds Capita Symonds have been brought in as safety advisors, the Daily Post understands.

Former events manager Lee Forde, who resigned last year and later claimed the s400,000 budget would not have allowed for a safe festival, last night said he felt vindicated by the decision.

I think this proves that what I requested and what I said was necessary, it has been borne out by them undertaking that this year.

I am really pleased to see the event happening, and I am glad to see that an adequate budget has been put in place.

Around s480,000 ended up being spent on last years festival, even though it did not feature outdoor stages.

After the council published its contentious report into the cancellation of the festival, council leader Warren Bradley vowed the Mathew Street festival would definitely go ahead this year.

Last night, Cllr Bradley said: Weve been working extremely closely with all of our partners over the last few months to finalise the plans for this years Mathew Street Festival.

I am very satisfied with the progress but at the moment we are not in a position to confirm the exact details of the festival.

Deputy Labour leader Cllr Paul Brant said: I am pleased that additional money seems to have been found, as the Labour party has been raising concerns that Mathew Street was under-funded this year.

However, we will be requesting confirmation that there are no cuts to other parts of the 08 programme given the financial crisis that the council is experiencing.

A Culture Company spokesman said: The budget will be confirmed once the Safety Advisory Group have met.

Mr Forde added: The money is needed because of the requirements to put on a safe event with six stages in the city centre without a large open space in those circumstances, costs increase.

He said the money would need to go towards CCTV, signs, security staff, and creating escape routes among other festival expenses.

There is an increase in infrastructure and man power to produce a safe event for the people of the city.

Pressure was put on employees to do something that was impossible. I said it was impossible to do it for s400,000, so I do feel vindicated by this.

Martin King, director of Liverpools official tourist board The Mersey Partnership (TMP), said detailed planning for this years Mathew Street festival was well advanced.

For us, as the Tourist Board promoting the destination all over the world, its one of the major attractions in the whole Capital of Culture programme.

In previous years, together with International Beatles Week events, Mathew Street has attracted thousands of extra visitors to the city and we look forward to seeing them back for a great event this year.

OPINION: PAGE 10

davidbartlett