CANCELLED SUNDERLAND FESTIVAL TO COST TAXPAYERS £142,000

Lib Dem councillors in Sunderland have hit out after it was revealed that cancelling the planned Lamplight Festival could cost city taxpayers as much as £142,000 in costs and artist cancellation fees.

Opposition Liberal Democrat councillors on Sunderland Council are calling for an overhaul of the authority's event strategy after it was revealed that the cancellation of this year's Lamplight Festival will cost taxpayers as much as £142,000.

The Lamplight Festival was due to be held on 5th, 6th and 7th August in Mowbray Park, with acts including Kaiser Chiefs, Deacon Blue and The Futureheads due to perform.

Information uncovered by Lib Dem councillors reveals that £9,288 was spent on marketing the festival in 2022. This included:

• £7,000 for a specialist music PR and social media management firm

• Just £200 on promoting social media posts to advertise the festival

• £1,650 for adverts on screens at the Wearmouth and Northern Spire bridges

• £1,840 for two adverts in 'NARC' and 'NE volume' magazines

However, when other costs including retention payment for artists that were due to perform are factored in Sunderland Council has confirmed that the total cost of the cancellation will be "between £132,000 and £142,000."

It comes after just 2,252 tickets were sold for the festival.

Grindon and Thorney Close councillor Stephen O'Brien who uncovered the figures, said:

"It is really worrying that just 2,252 tickets were sold - though it is perhaps unsurprising as there seems to have been next to nothing done to promote the festival and get these ticket sales up to the levels needed to run a successful festival.

"Local people will be shocked that cancelling this festival is going to cost the Council up to £142,000. This would be better spent towards improving basic services for residents or cutting Council Tax bills during this cost of living emergency."

Lib Dem councillor for Millfield Andrew Wood called for a review of the Council's event strategy at the meeting of all 75 city councillors on Wednesday 22nd June added:

"As well as this cancellation resulting in Council Tax-payers' cash being thrown down the drain, this latest debacle is part of a worrying trend of events in Sunderland being cancelled, postponed or underperforming.

"The Council's leadership urgently needs to review their events strategy. Sunderland Council can't be allowed to develop a bad reputation for not being able to put on events that residents and businesses alike want to see be successful."