Scotland’s biggest street arts festival has been axed in an effort to cut cash.
Big in Falkirk attracted 100,000 people to the Stirlingshire town for a weekend every May, but was axed with immediate effect in the latest round of council cutbacks.
Scotland's National Street Arts Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. It attracted acts including Amy Macdonald, The Stranglers, Tony Christie, McFly, Snow Patrol, Deacon Blue, Heather Small and Bob Geldof in the past.
However, it cost Labour-led Falkirk Council £400,000 to put on and was judged to be "no longer sustainable".
Maureen Campbell, the council's director of community services, told the leisure, tourism and community committee on Tuesday: "Big in Falkirk has been hugely successful over the 10 years of its existence. It has brought new and exciting arts forms and spectaculars to the area. It has placed Falkirk among the best of street theatre festivals in Europe.
"However, given the financial challenges facing the council it is suggested that its priorities lie elsewhere and that, unfortunately, Big in Falkirk will not take place in 2010.
"The event budget for Big in Falkirk is £396,000. The budget pressures for 2010-11 mean that this is no longer sustainable and though additional support is offered by national agencies, it is not sufficient to produce a viable budget."
Opponents are furious at the decision, claiming the arts extravaganza regularly brought in over £1 million to the local economy – money that will now be lost to the area. Grangemouth Councillor Angus MacDonald, the SNP group's economic development spokesman, said the move was "blinkered and short sighted".
He said: "The ruling Labour-Tory administration in Falkirk voted today to axe the successful Big in Falkirk festival. As a result there will be no festival next year.
"Sadly, at times of economic hardship, arts and culture provision is the first and easiest target for cuts. The decision is extremely blinkered and short sighted, particularly when you take into account the 100,000 visitors and £1 million the festival attracted to the town every year. Many shops, pubs and cafes relied on the financial boost the Big in Falkirk festival brought to the town."
Big in Falkirk attracted 75,000 people in its first year, and regularly attracted 100,000 to the town over the weekend. This year numbers were slightly down after initial Scottish cases of swine flu were diagnosed in the town.
Falkirk Council leader Linda Gow said: "Big in Falkirk has run its course. When budgets are looking better, we may have to look at doing something different.
"However, we cannot sustain that level of expenditure while we are looking at such a drastic drop in budget allocations from national government.
"We have to prioritise and unfortunately we have had to take the decision to cut Big in Falkirk. It will be missed, but something had to go."
Last updated: 26 November 2009, 12:26
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