THE organiser of the Burnham Food and Drink Festival has hit back after a petition was presented to the town council over how the event is funded.

The petition of 73 names condemning the £1,000 grant from the council to the festival to help stage the event was collected by Ann Popham, a landlady in the town.

Beverley Milner Simonds said some of the signatories did not realise what they were signing and that children also signed the document. With around 20,000 people living in and around the town, she felt this was a very small number and pointed out that visitor figures generated by the festival ran to many thousands and brought money into the town.

She said: “We have spoken to some of those who signed the petition and some felt they were misled into signing and regretted it.

"The good thing that came out of the petition was the number of people who wrote to us and stopped us in the street and posted messages on social media saying how much they loved the festival.

"Some said it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to Burnham which is nice to hear.”

The festival director and town centre manager said she was shocked that Mrs Popham hadn’t spoken her first about the festival and engaged with her about the positive benefits the festival brings.

Mrs Popham said she could have collected more signatures and wasn’t the only person collecting the signatures and was not aware of any children signing up. She feels the festival should pay its own way and be funded by the traders.

Mrs Milner Simonds said: “The free festival takes place on October 31 and will bring in the best food and drink within 25 miles of the town centre for a one-day extravaganza.

"There will be live chef demos on stage, with lots of entertainment and about 100 traders.

"We average about 7,000 to 10,000 visitors normally, although we had 19,443 in May.

"But even when it has rained in the past we’ve had over 7,000 people – the event features indoor venues as well as outdoor markets.”

In reply Mrs Popham said she was entitled to her own opinion and Mrs Milner Simonds to hers.