A COUNCIL will take an arts festival out of the hands of professionals and give it back to the people.

Rossendale Council has decided to ditch Mid-Pennine Arts as organisers of the annual Rossfest and let local groups run and take part in the festival.

A meeting of the council's leisure committee agreed to extend Rossfest from one week to two and hold it at the end of May rather than the beginning.

Committee chairman Coun Lawrence Forshaw outlined his blueprint for a new type of Rossfest featuring local brass bands, choirs and theatre groups.

He said: "We should spend the fortnight celebrating the arts of Rossendale not bringing in expensive groups from outside. It will save a lot of money."

The committee was told the council paid Mid-Pennine Arts £7,500 a year to organise Rossfest, Rossendale Carnival and Rossendale Art Show, plus an £11,000 annual subscription.

Coun Forshaw added: "Rossfest has had no impact over the last few years. It has taken place and no one has noticed.

"If you involve Rossendale people they will take notice. It happens like this in Whitworth and their festival has been very successful and made money."

Coun Forshaw said he had spent the last two weeks canvassing local groups and the response had been "yes, yes, yes."

Tory leisure spokesman Coun Philip Dunne backed the move. He said: "It's a good idea and worth trying. The Whitworth example is a good one to follow."

A sub committee of councillors and representatives of local arts organisations will be formed to organise the new-look festival.

In the past councillors have criticised Rossfest for being too highbrow and attracting only small audiences. Poor weather at the start of May has also affected attendances outdoors.

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