Market plan for Burntwood Wakes

A farmers' market may be added to the annual Burntwood Wakes festival programme.

Burntwood Town Council is being recommended to include the market or a continental market in fun day activities held on the Saturday. These are held at the town's rugby club.

Next year's event will be held from July 22 to 24. An independent review committee has met since this year's event to look at improvements for 2011.

It is recommending the 'Wakes Unsigned' event continues on the Friday offering a showcase to local young bands.

If adequate funding is found then a programme of Saturday night entertainment will also be provided.

The committee has recommended a budget of £35,000 plus any sponsorship that can be attracted for 2011.

The Sunday night of entertainment will be staged if an outside promoter is found that is willing to organise it.

The council is being recommended tonight to agree to take over all the organisation of the festival.

Town clerk Mary Danby is also recommending the council contract with the police for a dedicated presence on the Friday and Saturday evenings and advertise Wakes Unsigned as a no alcohol event.

Security should also be increased to have two staff on the gate for Wakes Unsigned and four security staff patrolling the field.

Charity stalls will only be allocated at the fun day for charities which benefit Burntwood residents or are staffed by local residents.

The Wakes committee is also being urged to consider advertising for more volunteers to help with next year's festival.

This year's festival was cut back to two days because the promoter of the Sunday live music event pulled out.

The music event held in 2009 had attracted only 300 people.