TAVISTOCK residents are concerned that the town's traditional Goose Fair could be on a downward slide and may disappear altogether as a result of what they see as excessive charging by the local authorities.
Dozens of people have signed a petition organised by June Smith of Smiffy's Bar in Plymouth Road to express their worries.
'I'm concerned about Goosey Fair,' said Mrs Smith. 'Are we killing the Golden Goose?
'We have quite a few of the traders and showmen coming in here and there's been a general decline in their numbers over the years. There used to be two sides of Plymouth Road completely full, but because of the increase in the rates that has declined and because of the increases next year quite a few of them told me they won't be coming back.'
She said the town council had increased its charges 6 per cent this year with another 4 per cent next year. And West Devon Borough Council had made an increase of 10 per cent in addition to charging VAT at 17.5 per cent for the first time ever, making this year's increase 27.5 per cent.
'They are all struggling in a town that's dying and now it has all come to a head. I know every year they say they won't be able to come back, but this year I think they meant it.'
Mrs Smith said the fair was part of the town's heritage. It put Tavistock on the map which brought in tourists throughout the year, not just for the fair itself, and should be preserved.
Tavistock Town Council is responsible for Plymouth Road, Bedford Square, Market Road and the Guildhall car park.
Town clerk Col Roger Howard said they had never charged VAT and had agreed the new scale of charges with the various interested parties.
'The costs of the fair are going up because we now have to pay for ambulance cover and we are expecting to have to pay for police cover as well next year,' he said.
Col Howard said the fair made a small profit — of the order of £7,000 last year — for the town council. He said the substantial profits the event used to make had been whittled away with increased costs, but councillors were still keen on keeping it going because the townspeople wanted it and it drew visitors to the town.
He added people had already paid deposits for next year and he fully expected a waiting list for sites again.
'I have no doubt it will go on next year,' he said.
The town council has run the whole show for the past three years, leasing other areas off West Devon Borough Council — this was the first time the borough council has had a direct input since then.
Council head of commerce Mark Hall said the increase in rates had covered the cost of a health and safety consultant, necessary because the council lacked the relevant expertise itself, and a set of portable toilets.
'We didn't make any profit from the increase,' he said.
Mr Hall said the council had elected to charge VAT in 1996 and had been charging the town council VAT, even if it had not been passing the charge on.
The council's chief accountant Neil Williams explained that there were a number of things for which the council was not obliged to charge VAT, but if the amount of exempted payments exceeded a certain figure the council would be liable to make a payment to the Government out of council tax. To avoid that the council had opted to tax the land rent.
Mr Hall said: 'I agree with the showmen that it was unfortunate, but we still have a good working relationship with them.'
He went on to say that he
welcomed the input of Mrs Smith and the other residents as the council was concerned about Goose Fair too.
'I've suggested that we need to sit down, all of us involved in any way, and review Goose Fair,' he said. 'We need to do something positive. This has bought it to a head. We need to make sure it's stronger for next year. If we don't do something it will fizzle out. We want to get it right and the only way to do that is to get people involved.'
A decision on charging for police cover next year is not expected to be taken until a new district commander is appointed following the retirement of chief inspector Chris Amos recently.
l At last week's meeting of the town council properties committee, works superintendent Les Bennett told members there was 'a bit of a mini-revolt regarding charges'.
'It might become quite a problem trying to recruit the sort of traders we are looking for to keep the fair on its toes,' he said.
'Basically they are saying their overheads are getting quite prohibitive.'
Mayor of Tavistock Cllr Judith Williams suggested there should be a 'proper debriefing meeting' after Christmas when the situation could be 'thrashed out' properly.