Carnival to lose grant if the 2024 event doesn't go ahead

Town Councillors have made it clear that if the Newtown Carnival does not proceed in 2024 then their tourism event grant will need to be repaid.

At the a meeting of Newtown Town Council's Economy & Environment committee in May, town councillors decided that the Newtown Carnival Trust, who plans and runs the Newtown Carnival can retain their £500 tourism event grant which was paid by the Town Council to the group in October 2021.

Councillors also decided that a top-up grant approved in February of this year can be paid after March 2024 on confirmation of the 2024 carnival taking place.

The committee also decided that the original £500 grant should be returned if the 2024 carnival should not happen.

In March we reported that the 2023 carnival was to be cancelled over a 'lack of committee members and volunteers', which marks the fourth year in a row that the event has been cancelled.

The decision to cancel this year's carnival was subject to much discussion online and Newtown Carnival Trust hit back at the 'very hurtful' comments towards a small group of volunteers who work hard to make the event a reality.

The Newtown Carnival Trust has invited the public to attend a meeting on May 16th at The Monty Club on Broad Street to discuss the effort and time required to organise the event alongside other commitments, such as work and family responsibilities.