A SPECTACULARLY successful concert could have been ruined by the unhelpful attitude of some council officers, a councillor claimed.

Ribble Valley Council leader Howel Jones praised the organisers of last weekend's Last Night of the Proms concert at Clitheroe Castle bandstand.

But he criticised officers of the council for not providing the help and support needed at the right time.

Coun Jones told a council meeting: "The two young musicians who organised this event were made to jump through too many hoops to get this evening off the ground. "In the end, solutions to various problems were found but these solutions could have been found weeks before the concert and could have saved a lot of last minute anxiety.

"I hope that we can adopt a more customer-friendly approach in the future."

Organisers of the concert had difficulties meeting health and safety standards required by law and it was only at the last minute that toilet and lighting facilities were given the go-ahead by council chiefs.

Chairman of the community committee Councillor Graham Sowter, said: "There have been discussions with the officers concerned and it has been agreed that perhaps not enough help was forthcoming."

The council agreed to write to the organisers of the concert congratulating them on the success of the concert, which raised more than £2,500 for charity.

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