A city centre coffee shop has hit out at the change in the Preston Caribbean Carnival route which means it will be shorter than planned.

Preston Carnival, in its 50th year, released their route early this week showing it going down Church Street, Flag Market and Friargate – but within 48-hours announced it had been scaled-back.

In a statement the Carnival organisers said this was due to ‘funding challenges’ and claimed city businesses hadn’t responded to a request to help fund the road closures and other infrastructure needed.

Read more: Council bosses promise to clamp down on Friargate anti-social parking problems

But Bernice Marie Newton, owner of Townhouse Coffee and Brew Bar in Friargate, hit back at the statement released by Carnival organisers saying they and other businesses were hit with a late demand to make a financial contribution.

She told Blog Preston: “The businesses on Friargate only got informed that they were expected to financially support the carnival once they’d announced Friargate within the route, this was only brought to our attention in March. Leaving little time to budget for.

“Apparently the requested amount from the Carnival is to pay for portable toilet hire and barriers which surely the council or event should be providing as standard? Do residents pay this amount when the carnival goes down Deepdale for example?

“The street felt like the Carnival was a huge blessing for us after the last few years and the lack of promotion Lancashire County Council have not put into the new road and would start the summer season off with a positive vibe.

“Town House and other businesses on Friargate feel sad and disappointed they’ve found all this out through Blog Preston and a Facebook post, rather than the event organisers or council and in all honesty in such a harsh way after everything the street has had to deal with through the recent years.

“Nothing has been officially discussed with us and the letter that we received in March read extremely demanding to pay what some businesses consider a large amount.

“I understand the frustration from the Caribbean Carnival wanting to extend their celebration for such a fantastic anniversary! However I think blaming the businesses of Friargate for not being able to achieve that is a particularly unfair excuse and response.”

Read more: Preston Caribbean Carnival artist talks costumes and community ahead of 50th anniversary event

What had the Carnival said?

In a statement released this week the Carnival had announced the change of route.

A Carnival spokersperson said: “We want to share some important details about the route this year. As some of you are now aware, we have had to change the route for this year’s event. We are a charity and rely on funding and donations to make everything work for you all. Unfortunately, a round of funding we had expected did not come through, and virtually no city centre businesses donated to us this year, with many saying “we go past anyway.”

“We understand times are hard and fully respect those who can’t help us. We don’t expect anything, and it is our responsibility to reach our fundraising targets. We must ensure the show goes on and to make it possible, we had to make route changes.

“Everything on Moor Park will go as planned, and it is simply a route change to ensure our 50th Anniversary is still celebrated. We apologise for any confusion caused and are thankful for the love and support from the people of Preston, our dance troops, and helpers.”

A request for further comment by the Carnival organisers made by Blog Preston was not forthcoming by the time of publication.

What Preston City Council had to say

Although not an official city council event – the Carnival is organised independently – the council play a part in helping to fund the event.

Originally the city council declined to comment on the change of route but asked by Blog Preston to respond to the comment made by Bernice and traders, a spokesperson said: “The Carnival is an independent event organised and managed by a voluntary committee and therefore decisions taken about the event sit with the committee and not the Council.

“The Council supports the Carnival as part of its community wealth building approach to community run, major events through planning advice, marketing and seed funding.

“This year, in recognition of the Carnival’s 50th anniversary, the Council contributed £10k towards the event to ensure a special celebration of this long-standing and important community and cultural event. This is in addition to the Arts Council England funding received by the Carnival committee and income generated through the event.

“The organisers were keen to extend the parade route into the city centre to mark the Carnival’s 50th anniversary year and given that they are a charitable, volunteer-run organisation, they wrote to all city centre businesses seeking support for this. Expanding the route to take in the city centre significantly increases the costs associated with the parade. As the Carnival is organised independently of the Council, the Council was not privy the method or content of this approach.

“The anticipated level of support from local businesses was not achieved and therefore the committee had to take a decision to adapt the route in order to ensure the event could still continue and be enjoyed by the people of Preston.

“The Council was approached by the committee on 17th May to request a greater level of financial support but unfortunately the Council was unable to meet the request for additional monies as it was already supporting with the largest financial package offered to the Carnival for almost 15 years. The Carnival committee in turn took the decision to shorten the route back to that used for several years as a cost saving method.

“A statement from the committee regarding their change of route made no mention of Friargate businesses and referred to “city centre” businesses. The Council supported the committee in the week before the event with a new road closure order, at very short notice, to further support the event.

“We have no doubt that this much-loved Preston event will be well-supported by the people of Preston and a great celebration for the city.”

The city council spokesperson said they were working on a large-scale plan to promote Friargate and its businesses in conjunction with the county council to encourage people back onto the street after the roadworks – which ended up taking more than a year than anticipated.

Read more: Celebrating half a century of culture as Preston Caribbean Carnival gears up for 50th anniversary

When is the Carnival and what’s the route now?

Carnival celebrations have already become with the One Park Living Legends Music Festival on Moor Park with an afterparty at Jalgos Sports and Social Club.

The Carnival itself takes place on Sunday (26 May) starting from Moor Park at 12.30pm and heading down Deepdale Road, Meadow Street, St Paulds Road, Sedgwick at North Road/Garstang Road before heading back to Moor Park.

The party then continues on Moor Park, with £2 entry to enjoy the celebrations with stalls and more.

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