Popular Worcester Show may no longer be free
The city council are considering charging for entry to the Worcester Show to boost funds.
The cash-strapped Worcester City Council has revealed the plan to introduce an entry fee to the family-friendly Worcester Show in order to boost funds.
It's one of a number of ways proposed to help with it's worrying budget issues.
The other plan in order to raise funds for the council is to close the historic Guildhall on Sundays as part of a move to save around £14,000 plus the saving on its ever-rising energy bills.
The Worcester Show, which is held every August at the city’s Pitchcroft Racecourse, regularly attracts 10,000 visitors and includes everything from market stalls to flower and vegetable competitions, live music and performances, dog shows and sports.
Council bosses believe they can start making some money on it – with the introduction of a £2 fee earning a much-needed £10,000 for the struggling authority.
The city council was facing a £1.7m gap in its books this year – which it has already been agreed will be filled by using reserves – and expects the gap to grow to nearly £4m in the next five years.
But council bosses warn they are now reaching the point where there will not be enough in the reserves to continue plugging gaps in the budget in that way.
A city council spokesperson said: “All councils in England have faced reductions in funding over the past few years but costs have increased rapidly in the past 18 months due to the cost-of-living crisis and increases in energy costs.