HAVING only recently announced that every primary school and nursery child living in Benarty would be receiving a free ticket for Benarty Gala, I am now saddened and angry that people within the committee of the Benarty Events group have virtually had enough and are ready to walk away.

Those guys have done an amazing job in pulling together our community, giving us one of the best children's galas our community has ever had.

They also pay to decorate our streets at Christmas time with all the Christmas lights throughout the area. If that is not enough they also pay for every child to go to the theatre and see a festive pantomime.

These guys put in numerous hours behind the scenes raising money through the community lottery and their recently introduced music festival, 'Rockore'.

Not one of the committee makes a penny, I have even been told some of them used their own money to get things going.

Now I am hearing that their success could cost them big. I am led to believe that the authorities are demanding a substantial sum for the hire of the Lochore Meadows Park for events held there.

In hearing this I approached a member of the committee to ask if it was true? I was told that it was and that morale in the Events Group was at an all time low, with many considering their positions.

I was also told that the Group have tried everything to have these charges rescinded without success.

He said the money that they have has come from the community, mainly through the Community Lottery and he felt that they would not be acting responsibly by handing over such a large amount without anything to show for it.

I have to say that this will be a very sad day for the Benarty community if these people were to decide enough is enough.

SLIM JIM,

Crosshill.