Had freelance journalist, Max Davidson visited Ely on the WeekEnd of The Ely Folk Festival his views would have been quite different...

The Ely Folk Weekend was a rip-roaring, rootin tootin monster success and a apt way for the Soul-less ordinary people of Ely to completely distance themselves from the criticism levelled at Ely and put it firmly where it belongs...
on the shoulders of the Local Council and bodies who hold the positions of power to do with Ely's Tourist and Community attractions and infrastructure...

Here is a few examples...

Ely Folk Festival has faced enormous hindrance by the Council over many years to stage the yearly event creating obstacles and objections when they should be praising the motivation of the organisers and doing everything they can to help..!

The Ely Folk Club, which holds regular Folk Evening was recently "hounded out of town".
For a while the "Ely" Folk Club was held in Haddenham and Witchford..!
Recently they have been "allowed" to hold events in an upstairs room @ Ely's Maltings, but they have to pay quite highly for the venue yet no members ever pay themselves.
The Ely Folk Scene is a genuine Ely Attraction and should by treated as such and the gallant organisers should be members of the Ely Tourist Committee.

On the subject of the Maltings. Ely has no real Cinema and The Maltings doubles as a Cinema yet because of this lowly status they can not offer new films and have to wait for months to get the rights to show New Releases by which time local people have already been to Cambridge to see it there. Ely needs a Cinema Complex and if Warner Brothers are listening, phone the Ely Council ( ELY 665555 ) and help the poor ol'sods out of the last Century..!

The Ely Feast Committee have been asking to hold a Music Based mini Fest in Ely for years. The Council this year refused permission for the use of Pocket Park and suggested Willow Walk. They then refused the use of Amplified Music..!
A subsequent survey held by the Council resulted overwhelminly in the support of the Mini Fest but none could understand why it couldn't be held in Pocket Park..! - MORE

It is not the ordinary Ely People that have no Soul, it is the Councillors... SACK 'EM ALL NOW..!

At very minimum, the Tourism Board of Ely should have at least 10 or 20 ordinary people on the committee, some of whom I could name now like Ruth Bramley, Dave Wolfe, Til & Fil-Utting-Brown, Brian Watson, Lee & Michael Gillett, Dil Owen, to name but a few, plus people from local Shops and Businesses & Residents, like many of the above, who live within the City Limits. The meetings should be open to the public, held @ the Maltings monthly.

Pocket Part should be improved in regard to Child Safety, Hygiene and Security and EVERY WEEKEND during Summer, the semi-permenent Marquee and Tent Complex could be used by different organisations wishing to held a Weekend Event..!

Tourist Resorts in Cornwall, every weekend the Council put on a Firework display. They appreciate the Tourist Industry and have done for years. It is about time Ely took it's rightful place as "The Gem of the Fens"

HAVE A SAY..! email tourism@ely.org.uk

From Til, a local resident, housewife, freedom fighter, Christian & mother who used to sit on the Ely Feast Committee until the Ely Council drove her completely insane..!...

East cambs are saying that all meetings and agendas can be found on the web.

1) SO, in theory we should be able to find the meeting where it is minuted that Pocket Park changes status. Meeting agrees to NO to festival!!!!! Should we not. I suspect NOT.

2) Agenda items, are also up on the web, so if there is to be any discussion in the future, and this has not started yet!!!!!! we would be aware of when and have the opportunity to voice our opinion at the meeting. I think we have to ask for time to speak. (says the paper)

So then (according to paper) we can fone someone for this information or help to find it.

I have really paid attention this summer to the fact that every community seem to have an annual event put on by groups within the community, for the community to enjoy, bond whatever and to put back into the community. There are so many benefits to this I cannot see why East Cambs are so unsupportive. And who the hell they think they are that they can control the city in such a way. For the minority!!!!!!!!!!!!
We went to Shelford feast on Sunday and it was amazing. Thousands of people, bar, teas/cakes, small craft market, lots of tables/chairs under one marquee. Spit Roast, amplified music, Ceilidh in the evening, they had Queen tribute band on the Friday (pay) Programmes sold out at 1.00 each.

In 8 years the shelford feast has raised over forty three thousand pounds which has all gone to village causes. It was revived 8 years ago by Jerry Brown and five chums to stem the effects of the education cuts on Shelford Primary school.

At the beginning of the programme they ask the question, 'why have the feast'

To meet together and have fun.
To generate a community spirit.
To celebrate being part of a village life - and of course that includes
visitors as well as those of us lucky to live here.

It is about helping others to help themselves.

What do you think Ely person? Are we above such feelings?
Is there anyone out there or am I just here with my 'fancy townie ideas?

We would need to be sure gates are well and truly fixed so no tinkers can squat! If we could get this off the ground Rugby club could not be a consideration as marquees cannot be up for that long.

Willows walk would not be big enough for this kind of event and why should people walk/drive out of the centre of their community when there is a perfectly good piece of ground sitting in the centre!!!!!!
Anybody know anything about Pocket park issues when it was a landfilled site being handed over to Ely Society. Means nothing to me but I understand that we can look in Ely Library for 'stuff' Best keep that close to your belt afore the buggers remove all evidence!!!!

I feel that our aim now should be to get together people who feel supportive to the idea of a community happening. ACRE who stand for Action with Communities in Rural England.(They are in Littleport) sound like an interesting body.

Another group may be interested in taking one end of the week and we have the other weekend. This would put the marquees on site for anyone else wishing to use ie Stretham players, local radio or someone could put on something for the young people say on the Thursday. Other areas could be
charity auction, fashion show, quiz nite, anything legal and fun. This would share the cost of marquees, main cost is getting them on/off site and labour. The bit in the middle is not what costs the money.

Individual groups would be responsible for security/ cleaning up for their event.

What do you know about the Ely country fair?
Last year someone foned to say that this could re-launch the Ely Country fair. Maybe a good way forward, may help with the grants. Although nat lottery will help fund community events if they meet criteria. Last year we met most points, I still think the Council had our forms 'hidden 'so they did not get to panel in time!!!!

Anyone else on this wavelength?

Any traders interested in the idea of promoting Ely as a happening place worthy of a visit and opportunity to spend a few shillings?

Any local groups struggling with the costs/effor of their own fundraising event?

Any groups needing to promote themselves?

I understand our community groups do struggle to exist, I am not surprised where would you bump in to the local scouts, Womens Institute, Neighbourhood Watch. All valued assets to our society.

Til x A fully paid up member of the brown paper bag support group.

Keep on rockin' in the free world! (If you can find it!!!)

FOR A REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2000 FESTIVAL CLICK HERE
FOR A REVIEW OF THE 1999 FESTIVAL CLICK HERE

TO ACCESS THE ELY FOLK CLUB WEBPAGE CLICK HERE

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