ORGANISERS of Monmouth Festival have announced there will not be a main stage this year after the response to the news last month that revealed the stage would be relocated.

After taking into consideration the falling revenue and the difficulty in maintaining support and viability for nine nights of music, the committee felt that, following the recent comments and discussions over its latest proposal, this was the only acceptable course of action.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” a festival spokesman told the Beacon.

Organisers added the nine day festival has in the past attracted 40,000 people to the town and acknowledged any change would have a detrimental effect on both the town and its many businesses. However they said they had taken a great deal of time, consideration and met with many other organisations before making this decision.

Although the car park site has worked well for many years, they said it did not allow them the flexibility to update and adapt, and they said their aim in moving the main stage to Chippenham Fields was to create a “more festival atmosphere” over a full weekend.

“We had agreed to protect the areas indicated by Monmouthshire County Council and were committed to litter picking and cleaning up every evening and after vacating the site, as we have always done on previous sites,” they added. “It was never our intention to upset or cause any difficulties for any other association.

“It has become very clear a main stage, nine-day festival is no longer viable or supported. Festival traders, who play a crucial part in financing the event, have also indicated that the nine-day formats is no longer attractive with its limited trading hours and nightly put-up and take-down.

“We would like to thank the core group of businesses that have supported the festival, as listed on our website, along with those of you that have been generous with donations and/or time. However, it is very noticeable that many of the businesses that directly benefit from the festival have not seen the need to support it. The festival is free at source but costs in the region of £60,000 to stage.

“We have, as has been reported many times in the Beacon and on our social media, battled to raise this money year on year and despite our rallying cry “£ for the sound” the majority of attendees have failed to take on board this message and respond accordingly”.

Organisers also highlighted the negative nature of feedback received since the news of the main stage relocation was announced, hitting out at “unacceptable” and “vitriolic” comments.

“Whilst we appreciate and welcome constructive feedback, over the last few years many of the comments made on social media (albeit it by a minority) have been vitriolic, abusive and inaccurate. We feel that it is unacceptable and inappropriate for our volunteers to be abused in this way”.

The 2019 festival will still include five nights of music in the Riverside, a classical programme at St Mary’s Church and some additional events to be confirmed.

Organisers are continuing to work with Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) to find a suitable solution for the main stage at the 2020 Monmouth Festival. If anyone would like to take action to ensure a main stage programme, and the return of Monmouth’s largest community event in its entirety. Donation buckets can be found at the Riverside pub and Shire Hall.