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Whitby Regatta and Folk Week clash starts angry row - COMMENT ON THIS STORY
A FURIOUS row has erupted over Whitby Regatta and Whitby Folk Week clashing again next year.
The town's hospitality association has threatened to withdraw support for Whitby Regatta if the events coincide again next August.
And organisers of Whitby Folk Week have said they would have no option but to take the event – worth an estimated 3m to the local economy – elsewhere, most likely to Bridlington.
Chris Stephenson, a director of Whitby Folk Week, said they made a "considerable loss" in revenue this year with some regulars staying away due to a lack of accommodation and problems with access to Whitby such as parking.
And he said if the events clash again next year for their 45th festival, which cannot be moved to another date as it fits into an international calendar of events, it will be "finished".
"We don't want to go to another town. We absolutely love Whitby. We are Whitby's festival," he said.
"We work well with the regatta, but we just wish they would choose another date. People just don't want to come to the festival when regatta is on, it's as simple as that. We didn't know it would have theeffect that it did."
In one of a number of e-mails seen by the Whitby Gazette, which have been circulated among hoteliers and other members, Whitby Hospitality Association chairman Tony Charlton says there had been a call from members for more direct action, with one suggestion being "identifying the regatta committee members and harangue them/boycott their businesses etc".
Other possible forms of action mentioned in the e-mail include no future sponsorship or advertising towards Regatta activities and a blocking of Skinner Street by Scarborough Council offices in protest.
Mr Charlton told the Gazette: "The regatta committee is creating a situation which will greatly reduce the income of many Whitby families forcing the two biggest single revenue grossing weeks in the year into one.
"Everybody in the association supports the regatta but what we can't tolerate is that they are held at the same time.
"When the dates clash it's the impact on what the town offers that gets severely damaged. If it is to coincide with the Red Arrows, and we love to see them, then I cannot understand that they are so shortsighted to believe that a 20 minute display is a valid reason to cost business in this town large amounts of money.
"I stand by the emails and they reflect the feelings of my members. It works both ways. A lot of my members are fearful of their livings.”
Mr Charlton added they would like to sit down and discuss their concerns with the regatta committee.
The dates for Regatta are set
continued on page 8
every five years according to the tides and are agreed by all three rowing clubs who give their preferred dates according to the safest weather conditions for rowers.
The committee also takes into account the dates of Scarborough Regatta, whether the school holidays have begun and whether Whitby Pavilion is available.
At the back end of this year, the dates for the next five years will be discussed and set.
President of Whitby Regatta Jane Kenyon reiterated they do not take into account whether the Red Arrows are available or not as they bid for them.
She said she is disgusted with the association.
“Whitby Regatta is administered by an unpaid committee of volunteers who work in their spare time,” she said.
“It is a not for profit organisation which is entirely self funding. The issue of dates has been discussed with the representatives of the hoteliers last year and was also raised two years ago with the Folk Week organisers.
“The language in these emails is not what you would expect from professional business people.
“Threatening behaviour and bully boy tactics resolve nothing. I would hope that the authors of these emails will reflect and withdraw them and make an unreserved apology to Whitby Regatta and the committee so that we can move on to plan next year’s event for the benefit of the community.
“Next year’s Regatta will be a milestone - the 170th Regatta - and something special for the whole community to celebrate.”
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
