'We are devastated' - Cash-strapped Hebburn carnival gets the chop

A much-loved but cash-guzzling South Tyneside festival has been scrapped – after a funding shortfall for the third-year running made it financially unviable.

Organisers say they are devastated to call off the Carr-Ellison Carnival in Hebburn – but have vowed to return bigger and better next year.

Hundreds flocked to Carr Ellison Park for a weekend of live music, stalls, a fair and other fun events in July for the past seven years.

Cash shortfall for carnival in Hebburn

But it came at an organisational cost of about £37,000 and year-round planning, the charity behind it said.

It revealed it had forked out up to £12,000 in each of the last two years from its own funds to ensure it would go ahead – taking a total loss on that money.

And it said propping it up was no longer financially viable and that time pressures meant a push for backing from previous sponsor supporters had not been effective.

Past supporters include South Tyneside Council, the National Lottery and borough-based international clothing firm Barbour.

In a statement on social media site Facebook, the carnival committee confirmed the decision “with great regret”, adding, “It is not financially viable to host a carnival this year.”

And Liz McHugh, chair of Clegwell and Hartleyburn CIO, a charity of which the carnival committee is part, said she and other volunteer organisers were “gutted”.

She revealed: “We are devastated. People from far and wide, such as Berwick, have enjoyed coming here for the carnival.

“It is a fantastic community event and people in the hundreds would come along and enjoy it.

“The charity has spent between £10,000 and £12,000 in each of the past two years supporting the carnival.

“It is a not-for-profit event and that is money that we don’t get back. Overall, about £37,000 is needed each year for the carnival to go ahead.”

Liz added: “We all do it as volunteers and we usually start planning the next year’s event as soon as the current one finishes.

“We did have a funding offer this year from the council. The charity would have paid again but it would have been at a loss.

“We do hope to come back next year bigger and better.”

Cancellation a ‘bitter blow’

Cancellation will be a bitter blow to many who regard the carnival as one of Hebburn’s biggest community celebrations – and some took to the group’s Facebook page to express their disappointment

Ritchie Dowling said: “Can we not set up a just giving page to fund this event? Always a great weekend sun or rain.

Helen Bell added: “Surely something can be done with the council’s help. Are the Bents park festivals being cancelled?”

And Sandra Proctor Baillie said: “Such a shame hopefully all returns next year.”