THE Tavistock Flower Show has been cancelled in its 155th year.

The sudden decision follows a letter advising the organisers the pannier market bill would be in the region of £1,000.

A problem had arisen because the show's booking — for which they had a receipt and written confirmation of dates from last November — had been incorrectly entered in the market events book.

As a result, a Sunday market had been booked and the Tuesday market planned as usual. The show was then offered a portion of the venue for the flower show — which they said was unworkable.

The show committee was then assured by mayor Cllr Ken Sanders on Tuesday of last week — as reported in the Times — that the annual Flower Show could proceed as usual. The understanding was they could use the whole of the market for the Monday and Tuesday, August 12 and 13, with the Saturday evening and Sunday to set up and receive entries. The planned markets would be cancelled.

However a few days later the show committee received a letter from town clerk Roger Howard stating that the council would 'not renege' on the booking, although the cancellation of the markets would result in a loss for the council of £2,400.

'This will be partially offset by your bill,' the letter continued, an 'early estimate of which is £1,048.'

Show chairman Geoffrey Willetts said this was 'a body blow'. 'Last year the rental charged for the show was £244. There is no way in which our club wishes to meet the rental asked as we only make a moderate profit.'

He said it was 'with great regret' they had decided to cancel this the 155th show.

'We have already spent several hundred pounds in necessary preparations, which we shall have to lose.

'We cannot help but feel that the show is not wanted by the town council, who seem more interested in letting the market to traders than helping us to organise an event much enjoyed by many residents, people living in surrounding areas and visitors from home and abroad,' Mr Willetts said.

He said that the letter stated that the council felt that the committee's current attitude was unhelpful. 'This remark is disappointing to our members, who give many hours of their free time to ensure the success of the show.'

Earlier, town clerk Roger Howard, who had sent the letter, told the Times the market charges for 2002-2003 had been passed by the council around February of this year, and the fact the booking had been made prior to that did not matter.

'Our traders, who depend on the markets, are being booted out for two days and will lose their income,' he said. 'I have not been given any policy by councillors that the Flower Show should have special treatment, but it is obviously open to negotiation,' he added.

'The pannier market is one of the major trading arms of the council and money received is offset against the Council Tax.'

The final decision would have had to be made by councillors at a future meeting, he said.

The market hall charges state a daily rate of £67 for community organisations 'within the parish' running 'jumble sales, fairs, bazaars, etc'. 'Exhibitions' were to be charged at £205 per day, with a £82.50 preparation work charge.

The town clerk had taken the Flower Show to be an exhibition. However, Cllr Judith Williams, who was investigating the matter after being alerted to the problem, said she believed the term 'exhibition' was meant to apply to events such as an Ideal Home exhibition rather than a flower show.

'This is a long-standing show, and they are not a profitable exhibitor such as an Ideal Home exhibition. The town council has a policy of supporting community events to the best of its ability.'

Cllr Williams had said investigations were being carried out and the matter would have to be debated in the chamber.

Regular stallholder Roger James, had said traders did not think it fair they should be stopped from trading. 'We're here trading all year round. August is the prime time of trading,' he said.

'We're here to make a living and this knocks us back several weeks.' A lot of traders were being put out of business for a flower show, he added, and he had contacted the Market Traders Association to see what could be done, with the possibility of a legal challenge being mounted.

At the time of going to press, town mayor Ken Sanders still held out hope and said he was going to sit down and do some diplomatic talking to try to persuade people that both show and traders could exist together.