No fence for festival despite new entry fee

The city’s racecourse will not be fenced off when it hosts a popular festival despite the introduction of an entry fee.

Worcester City Council said it will not be installing a security fence around the city’s Pitchcroft racecourse in August during the Worcester Show as it moves ahead with plans to start charging visitors £2 to enter.

The council, which is bringing in the charge to boost funds, said a fence around the show would cost at least £6,000.

Instead, those now willing to pay for the Worcester Show, which regularly attracts more than 10,000 visitors every year, will be directed to one of several entrances by security.

A report by the council, which will be discussed by the place and economic development committee on June 5, admits that people will likely enter the festival without paying but said there would already be enough security and the risk was “acceptable” given the keenness to promote the Worcester Show as family-friendly.

“There is a risk that attendees will enter the site without paying the entry fee unless the site is isolated,” the report continued.

“This risk is considered acceptable in the interests of promoting the show as a family event and will be mitigated by the positioning of facilities on the site boundary and the presence of security staff required, in any event for crowd control purposes.”

The gap in the city council’s budget is already expected to grow to nearly £4m in the next five years and bosses warn they are now reaching the point where there will not be enough in the reserves to continue plugging holes.

The council has put its foot down on spending and turned to some of its popular – but heavily subsidised – events to save money.

Last year’s Worcester Show was run at a nearly £12,000 loss with the city council underwriting the shortfall but the council is expecting a bumper weekend and with the new fee, is anticipating income to double and despite rising costs, come out with a modest £9,000 surplus.

The event, which is held every August at the city’s Pitchcroft Racecourse, regularly attracts 10,000 visitors and includes everything from market stalls to flower and vegetable competitions, live music and performances, dog shows and sports.