HATHERLEIGH'S crisis hit community has decided that its annual arts and music festival should go ahead this year to show to the world outside that the town is open for business!
Now in its sixth year, Hatherleigh Festival has become known nationally and internationally for its high calibre of talent and interesting and varied programme and townspeople have agreed that to shelve what has promised to be the best ever festival would be the wrong thing to do.
Deputy chairman of the Hatherleigh Business Association Tim Brandon-King said the festival had always brought visitors to the town and showed people what Hatherleigh was all about.
'With the way things are at the moment, it will brighten everybody up and bring the community together,' he said.
'Such a lot of hard work is put into organising the festival and it would be a great shame to have to cancel it.'
His views were reiterated by business people and residents at a foot and mouth crisis meeting held in the town last Wednesday.
Co-ordinator of the festival Clare Gladstone said the support from the community to keep the festival on the events' calendar this year was wonderful.
'People feel very strongly that we should go ahead so everyone can go out and have fun,' she said.
'The feeling in the town is that we want people to come here and there is no need for them to stay away anymore.
'The festival will be a great advert for the town. We have to send out a positive message.'
Clare said the programme this year was really wide ranging: 'It's the best menu of events that we have ever had,' she said.
'We have classical, jazz and folk plus art exhibitions, toy-making and skateboarding workshops and acrobats coming from Tanzania.'
Hatherleigh Primary School successfully bid for funding from the Lottery 'Awards for All' scheme to run children's events at the festival and a grant has also come from Lloyds TSB towards running costs.
Unlike in previous years, the festival committee has felt unable to ask local businesses for sponsorship because of the effects of the foot and mouth crisis on their trade.
'We hope to approach the bigger companies like estate agents and banks who are not so affected as the smaller businesses,' she said. 'The festival does bring in trade for the town and maybe nearer the time some people may be able to offer a small donation or a prize for the festival draw.'
If anyone has any comments to make about Hatherleigh Festival going ahead in July or wants more information they should call Clare Gladstone on 01837 811116.