MONEY spent by the town council on professional marshals for next week's October Fair could be better spent on a town Christmas tree, according to the chairman of the Ledbury Traders' Association, Annette Crowe.

This year, costs of hosting the October Fair, which comes to the streets of the market town for the evenings of next Monday and Tuesday, have more than tripled.

For the first time, the town council has opted for professional marshals, professional first aid and new signage for the road closures.

The final bill will be in excess of £1,600: a huge slice out of the usual £2,000 rent given by the Rogers fun fair family to the town council, for grant funding to worthy local causes.

Last year, the town council spent just £541 in support of the fair, using Army cadets and volunteers as marshals, leaving £1,458.60 in the grant pot.

Now traders are asking why the town council can find money for extra October Fair expenses but not for a town Christmas tree this year: with the traders themselves being asked to fund the big tree.

Mrs Crowe, a Homend retailer, said: "Paying for professional security is ridiculous, especially when the town council has asked us, the traders, to pay for the Christmas tree this year. It could come to hundreds of pounds.

"There are other ways that money for the October Fair could be spent: on a town Christmas tree, for example. Why not utilise the talents that are already there? In previous years we've used the Rotary Club, the Army Cadets and volunteers without any problems."

The chairman of Ledbury Town Council, Cllr Nina Shields, said: "We have to make sure the marshalling for the fair is done effectively and safely."

But although the new signage has added £800 to this year's bill, it is a one-off cost that will benefit future October fairs and other town events.

Cllr Shields said: "With regard to costs and the October Fair, a good proportion of these relate to what you might call ‘capital costs’ – resources which will be used over several years for a range of events."

Meanwhile, the Rogers family has been asked to pay £250 more in rent for the town centre fair site this year.

Ashley Rogers said: "There is a rise in costs. It is what it is, and we've agreed to pay it. But it can't keep going up every year."

Ledbury town councillor, Tony Bradford said: "Why is the town council employing professional security? From a business point of view, the town is not making money from this. It all needs to be looked at, to be honest.

"I'm ambiguous about the October Fair, and I know that some of the traders actually close for two days, because of the disruption. Could the location be replaced with another venue. Is there a need for this now?"

But Ann Rogers, the matriarch of the Rogers funfair family said it was a licensed fair going back to Elizabethan days.

She said: "To see the fair, with its lights and music, doesn't cost anyone a penny. Long may it carry on.

"There is still all the fun of the fair, with all the traditional rides and new rides; and it's always been Ledbury's fair. It's the people's fair, and it belongs to the town of Ledbury."