Lantern parade threat

10:26am Thursday 27th September 2007

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An award-winning lantern workshop scheme will no longer be able to use Calne Town Hall.

Councillors say the workshops, in which more than 1,000 people made over 2,000 lanterns for the Christmas lights switch-on last year, must make way for more lucrative bookings.

The group, which last year won a national award for its community involvement, had booked the hall for two weeks in December.

But now Calne Town Council says that the workshop can no longer stay because lanterns are left in the town hall overnight. This means that the council loses Christmas party bookings.

The ruling is part of a move, made at the council's policy and resources committee meeting on September 17, to make all groups - even charities - pay for using the town hall.

Coun John Ireland said: "Christmas is a period when office parties are looking for venues and we should be promoting the town hall for that.

"The workshops take over the whole building during a period when we should be making a lot of money."

Councillors agreed to look into an alternate venue for Calne Area Initiative For An Active Community, the group that runs the workshops, Deputy town clerk Linda Roberts said: "We will give CAIAC as much support as we can in finding an alternate venue but unfortunately it won't be the town hall."

Groups that can't afford to pay can apply for a grant from the council.

CAIAC chairman and town councillor Jill Martin said she had not officially been told of the decision.

She said: "I can understand the need for the town hall to make money. But at what cost?

"Christmas should be a time for the community to come together."