COUNCIL 'PICNIC' PAY-OFF ON MAY FAIR PLEDGE
DROMORE'S 'Picnic in the Park' this coming weekend is the district council's pay-off on its pledge to spend untapped May Fair money in town.
The annual, council-run May Fair was controversially cancelled this year, the local authority deeming it unnecessary in light of a similar event planned by Dromore In Action to open its Civic Week.
In the wake of the cancellation the council quickly moved to scotch rumours that part of the 8,000 earmarked for the fair might be used to fund events in other parts of the district.
"The entire amount will be spent on Dromore," a spokesperson said at the time, adding that the council thought it better to use the money for other, additional events, rather than plough it into the Dromore In Action Civic Week, whose organisers, she said, had already secured "significant funds" to cover their programme.
In announcing the 'Picnic in the Park' last week, the council revealed it was being supported by the EU's PEACE III Programme, but it has since insisted that the event would have gone ahead even had additional EU funding not been secured; the European cash means it can be staged at less cost to the ratepayer while actually allowing a greater amount to be spent on it.
"When we say we will run an event, we do that at all costs," a spokesperson said. "In this case it's good that we have secured this EU money because it means we're spending more on the event and it helps offset the cost to the ratepayer."
In actual fact, according to the council, some 11,000 is being spent on the 'Picnic', fully 3,000 more than had been set aside for the May Fair, which was itself supported with European funding in the past.
Billed as "a fun-filled afternoon featuring live music and dance as well as a wide range of activities for children", 'Picnic in the Park' will run in Dromore Town Park from 2-4pm on Saturday (14 August).
Families are invited to pack a picnic but food stalls will be available at the event for those who don't wish to do so.
Attractions include'Chunk of Funk', a band of Banbridge Academy pupils who won this year's 'Spirit of BuskFest' in Banbridge; 'Last Known Addiction', a five-piece rock band from Banbridge - fronted by lead singer Stephen Cairns - and a hip-hop dance troupe from Dromore itself.
Activities for young children include a bouncy castle, funfair rides, face painting, balloon modelling, animal corner and craft workshops, with a DJ and drumming workshop and a climbing wall for older children.
No decision has yet been announced as to whether next year's Dromore May Fair will go ahead, the council having earlier advised it would probably again depend on what other, similar events, might be lined up.
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Weather for Dromore
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 19 C
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Wind direction: South
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