STRONG support has been shown for an annual Calstock event which brings hundreds of people to the village each year despite a call for it to either cease of move.

At Calstock Parish Council's meeting last week an anonymous open letter published in the local newsletter expressing concern about the effect the bike show had on the village was discussed.

The letter to show organiser Malcolm Wright stated: 'For well over a decade now, the majority of honest, hardworking, tax paying Calstock residents have had to endure the excessive noise, mess, parking chaos and general disruption of the annual Calstock Bike Show — an event actually supported by only a relatively small number of local residents.'

The writer went on to say that the bike show had outgrown the capacity for the village and likened it to the summer festival which in recent years had 'grown into an uncontrollable alcohol and drug fuelled free for all'.

The letter went on to state that very few people made financial gain from the event and that it did not bring any 'real economic benefit' to the wider Calstock community.

'It is pretty obvious that you have never taken the opinions of Calstock residents into account and have no respect for the vast majority of locals who do not want your bike show here,' it said.

Numerous residents attended the meeting of the full council last week to show their support for the event, following the letter in the 'Calstock News'.

Calstock resident Paul Dew said: 'I read that the majority of residents were opposed to the show. I do not believe this to be true. I am not aware of any referendum, poll or survey of local residents.

'I have yet to meet anyone opposed to the show. The visitors are friendly and co-operative. The litter is always removed, leaving the village cleaner than before the event.

'My garden overlooks the camping fields and yes, there is some noise from motorcycles and music. However, this is for just one weekend in the year and easily forgiven considering the huge financial benefit generated by the show.'

Another resident Nigel Stevens expressed his support for the show, citing the increase in use of businesses, bed and breakfasts and the many monetary donations the show had made to local village organisations and projects.

Business owner in the village, David Williams, said: 'How someone can say there is no economic benefit to the community is ridiculous. If we didn't have these types of events, the village would die.

'These guys turn up, set it up, police it and clean up. How can this anonymous person say they speak on behalf of the village? It doesn't reflect my views or the numerous people I have spoken to. Its comments are not worth the paper it is written on.'

The council received 20 letters and emails also in support of the bike show, along with the published open letter and one other anonymous objector.

During the meeting, show organiser and parish councillor Malcolm Wright asked permission from the council to use the field for the bike show — as he is required to do every year.

'I'm asking permission to use it as we always have done. We have spent a bit of money on it and have had it spiked twice,' he said.

Cllr Wright listed a number of groups and organisations the show had benefited, including the football club, rowing club, pantomime, under fives play group and mentioned how they had helped pay for fireworks, benches on the green and had lent their marquee for use at Albaston fete as well as helping many other groups.

Cllr Dick Hoile said: 'This council, for the past 15 years, has always supported the bike show and has seen it as a worthy event. I can't imagine why it would be any different this time.'

It was unanimously agreed to allow the use of the field for this year's bike show.