Keep Feelgood Free

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/78466/appeal-to-keep-the-feel-good-festival-free

I've a better idea;

Charge for it, and then we can get a meaningful idea of footfall without burdening the residents.

I can think of better uses for £60k like fixing the holes in the roads.

Under the present circumstances I'm with JohnB. It would be interesting to see just how many of Rochdales residents will turn out for such an event in order to see just HOW MUCH the residents of the town want such an occasion and expenditure. FREE TO ALL will always attract a certain section - especially the young and healthy who may not have surplus cash about them and some larger families who are feeling the pinch. It is never a good guide to ascertain WANT by putting on FREE entertainment.
A nominal charge for the concerts of £5 per adult plus £2 for every child should be affordable to those who REALLY want this event and it would go some way towards making up the present shortfall in costs and placate many of Rochdale's residents who may feel aggrieved at the costs coming from their 'hard to find' rates.

Atlas does have a point. We all pay for this extravaganza and at my age, it isn't my 'thing', I have never been and don't wish to go but, I don't begrudge it for our young folks. There should never be an additional cost though because, those of us that are paying who have no real interest should more than make up for any shortfall.

But for us 'not interested' the 'interested' would not have the funds.

The provision of 'FREE' always attracts no matter where it is used. I find in my business that it attracts not just the less well off but those who could well afford to pay but would rather not. Like always it is abused to some extent. The comment regarding the Rochdale traders is quite valid. Some will benefit others will not. At a time when Rochdale NEEDS to conserve its revenue and use what little it has on the most PRESSING matters I find such frivolous expenditure quite ridiculous. In order to keep the festival going somebody somewhere in the borough is losing out - and it could well be you or one of your NEEDY family. £100,000 pounds is not small money when the wolf is at the door. Your council need their heads smacking - or is it that they just don't CARE.
Put a charge on the event and LET'S SEE JUST HOW MUCH THE EVENT IS APPRECIATED. And stop the lunacy.

Given the location and layout of the previous years, I cannot see how charging could be properly enforced.

With regard to the opinion piece up on RO - I wonder how much the bars along the Town Hall square contribute to the running of Feelgoo? They seem to do quite well out of the festival when the music's on; their bars are usually packed to bursting and a good 6 or 7 deep at the bar.

Not at all anexium unless they have been asked to do so in the first place. As I said - some traders will benefit others will lose. Drinking and eating establishments will always benefit unless there are provisions made 'inside' the venue or within the close confines. As to your post southernbelle. It always depends on layout - which I don't doubt was never a consideration from the outset - as to the possibilities of charging without a certain section of the public being able to view the proceedings from 'without' and thus avoiding a payment/charge for entry. I have had the same problems over the years. One just has to hope that sufficient numbers will attend who wish to view the proceedings from close up and will pay for the privilege. The only way to avoid free-loading is to have the music concerts inside a large enough venue to house sufficient bums on seats to cover the costs etc. OR - to barrier off all entrances to the square on the day and charge from the outset of that day's proceedings. Perhaps the first day should be FREE (no concerts) and the second day( music and concert) chargeable? I'm not running the event so I couldn't comment further.

Like most concerts it should be the punters who attend concerts who should pay for it. Not the general council tax payer.

It's a bit like 'universal benefits' TP. There will always be the free-loaders and those who could afford but choose not to. Free is never (in my experience) free. Somebody somewhere pays for it and quite often without a choice. Best of luck with it all.