GAZETTE & HERALD: CASH-STRAPPED Chippenham Arts Festival is battling to get £150 from the Emery Gate shopping centre, money that it says it is owed for an advert in last year's festival programme.

The Chippenham shopping centre took out an advertisement in the brochure for the second Chippenham Festival of the Arts held in November last year but months later, the money has not been forthcoming and festival chairman Geoff Endacott said they might have to take the matter to the small claims court.

"It's a nuisance we could do without," he said. "I've sent an invoice, statements, reminders, and a final demand which I delivered in person. They just say they will deal with it, but nothing ever happens."

The advert was negotiated with suspended centre manager Brian Poole.

But while £150 might be small change to an organisation like Emery Gate, it is a substantial sum for the festival, which operates on a budget of about £20,000 a year and relies on the efforts of volunteers and in particular, on the dedication of Mr Endacott.

James Rose of Emery Gate management company Workman & Partners, said this was the first he had heard of the outstanding bill.

He pointed out that they only took over the management of the shopping centre in July, so the advert was arranged with the previous management company, DTZ.

However Mr Rose said he would certainly look into the matter.