I RAN the dance stage at the Old Town Festival last Sunday and I am pleased you printed the complaints afterwards.

I had some people ringing me up that night and all day the next day asking why the Celtic Academy dancers did not finish their exhibition.

It took weeks and lots of phone calls to pull it together giving people great entertainment as different cultures, from English dance to Latin, Spanish and Irish were involved.

The dance stage had a big crowd all day.

David Hoar of Swindon Contractors came to the dance stage at 3.20pm and told me I was running overtime and I would have to stop the music.

I explained that the Celtic Academy had three minutes to go, but Mr Hoar insisted it must stop now.

I stopped the music. I did try and explain to the 200-plus people watching that the council had stopped us from performing. I just walked away disgusted.

I had dancers on that stage aged four years old and upwards. To see the looks on their little faces upset me as much as it did their parents and the public.

I booked the PA system and it was not interfering with any other event. Mr Hoar said it was interfering with a brass band on the band stand.

I went and spoke to the brass band and they made no complaint about our music.

The gymnasts who were performing 10 yards from the dance stage asked if they could use our PA system. Mr Hoar let their music continue. What had he against Irish music?

The council should encourage children and give us a chance to promote different cultures. Mr Hoar upset the day for everyone.

PATSY MALONEY

Entertainment Sub Committee

Helston Road, Park North