The article claims, in the accompanying letter, supposedly written by the local businesses but in reality by the press secretary of our MP John Hayes, that the trust's decision was unilateral and elected representatives were not consulted.

This is just not true!

In September 2007 our parade organiser was informed that it was unlikely that South Holland District Council (SHDC) would fund the parade after the 50th in 2008.

They then invited the trust's chairman and the parade organiser to a meeting in the office of Mr Andrew Petcher, corporate director of SHDC, along with Coun Nick Worth.

They were advised that it was increasingly difficult to persuade cabinet members to agree funding for the parade and that the trust needed to find a way of "Getting the people to the parade rather than the parade to the people".

At this point they suggested that the trust consider a "static event".

A further meeting, "a visioning meeting" was arranged for November 2007, which was attended by representatives of the trust, SHDC (including Coun Worth and senior council officers) as well as a representative of the horticultural industry, Mr Matthew Naylor, who had been invited by Coun Worth to support the views of the council.

At this meeting SHDC emphasised its desire for a static flower festival.

Mr Naylor suggested that this could be financed by the horticultural industry and would replace a parade whose true cost, he argued (taking into account all the voluntary aid received in the form of manpower and equipment), is close to £1,000,000.

Because the "vision" was for 2009 onwards members of the trust decided to "put it on the back burner" until after the 2008 parade series of debriefs.

As you know, due to the dedication of all the trust volunteers (especially their operations team) and organisers the 50th Spalding Flower Parade was the best and safest for many years!

However, behind the scenes the problems facing the trust and parade were mounting.

There was the issue of the Market Place, SHDC advised the trust that it would be evicted from the Holbeach depot where the floats were constructed, financial support would be cut and indeed costs incurred by SHDC for road cleaning, toilets etc. could well be passed on to the trust.

After all debriefs had taken place and the future of the parade was debated within the trust a meeting was called in early July with SHDC.

Present at that meeting were the chief executive, deputy leader of SHDC, Coun Worth, and again senior council officers, including Sue Bolter, head of economic development.

When asked what funding might be available for a static event the trust was told by Sue Bolter that funding from Lincolnshire County Council had been agreed and would be passed to the trust in due course.

At this stage SHDC's chief executive told the trust that any decisions regarding the parade would be kept from all other councillors because they were about to debate the "Markets Issue" and because SHDC needed time to formulate a plan for the town centre and develop a publicity strategy.

At the same time Coun Worth told the trust to concentrate its efforts on the "Springfields Arena" because of the infrastructure there and that SHDC would put into place a plan for Spalding town centre.

A joint press release was agreed for early September.

After this meeting the chairman of the trust, Barry Drew, called the county councillor who holds the relevant portfolio for tourism and economic matters, Mr Eddie Poll, to explain the decisions of the trust and SHDC.

As we now know, SHDC has been forced to reverse its position and abandon any support for this worthy charity because of political pressure from higher up the chain.

It is this pressure and this pressure alone that is driving the current campaign designed to discredit the trust and show our local politicians in a good light.

Flower Parade and Carnival Trust Committee