THE staging of this year's Monmouth Carnival and Kymin Dash fun run could be in jeopardy if organisers are unable to find alternative funding to steward the event.

 As part of their cutbacks, Gwent Police have told the Monmouth Festival Committee that they are no long policing community events across the region, leaving organisers to source their own stewards for road closures and health and safety obligations at public events.

But this is an added expense that the festival committee cannot afford, putting both events in doubt for 2011. 

Committee member Lottie Dixon said: "With politicians going on about the 'Big Society' I ask the people of Monmouth and the surrounding area to pull together and prove that we can support an event that is a big part of town life.

"The carnival brings in more visitors to town than we can afford to lose and it would be a shame for such a good tradition to come to an end."

The event has been staged continually since the early 1950s and evolved out of the traditional summer pageant.

Town Councillor Terry Christopher warned: "The committee have had a couple of quotes for stewarding these events, but these have been cost prohibitive.

"When the organising of the annual carnival was amalgamated with the festival in 2005 the town council's agreed funding for staging the carnival would transfer to the festival committee to help them run the event.

"However, if the carnival ceases to be held, this funding will be also withdrawn."

David Evans, who previously ran the carnival before it amalgamated with the festival, said: "Historically the carnival has given a public platform to certain sections of the community, like Wyesham Social Club and the Attik youth centre.

"But without a carnival the town will be a lesser place. The added red tape required in organising events like this combined with high insurance costs and now the burden of having to pay for extra stewarding costs makes putting on events cost prohibitive. It's no wonder that many towns throughout the UK no longer have an annual carnival parade."

Lottie Dixon pointed out: "As a youngster myself I loved watching the carnival processions and over the last few years I can't imagine the festival week without it.

"It would be a shame for the younger generation to be denied this opportunity. If anyone has anything to say, suggest, or wants to get involved I ask you to email me at [email protected]">[email protected]."