URGENT questions are being asked over the festival fiasco in Weymouth that has left many angry and out of pocket.

Council bosses have come under fire for not speaking to traders after the closure and for signing a contract that has ended in disaster.

Mainsail, the company behind the Bayside Festival, announced on Friday that it had gone in to administration and the event was shut down. Furious ticketholders and traders told of how the company allowed them to part with their cash just hours before announcing the site would close.

But speaking to the Echo, marketing boss Richard Walters said he had ‘no idea’ the company was about to liquidate.

He said: “We didn’t know until Friday morning.

“I knew we were having a tough time, like everybody, but I had no idea this would happen. I have spoken to a couple of the traders and there was a meeting on-site.

“We really want people to come to Weymouth and we believed in what we were doing. We want to thank everyone for their support. We, like them, have had a difficult summer.

“We thought this was an opportunity for Weymouth to come good. We are extremely disappointed with what’s happened – we didn’t want to be in this situation.”

Linsey McLucas, who bought four tickets for the Bayside Festival at 8pm on Thursday, said the company must have known.

She said: “Administration doesn’t happen overnight. Mainsail knew full well that people were buying tickets and wouldn’t be getting anything in return.

“There was no remorse or apology. They knew they were in trouble a long time ago.

“I think the council have done a really poor job. Surely when they researched the company for the contracts there was something on the credit check?

“Weymouth is a small place, we rely on tourism.

“It is a shame this has happened smack bang in the middle of the Olympics .

“People coming from out of town that have bought tickets for Bayside and paid for their accommodation are going to be put off coming again.”

Calls are being made for Weymouth and Portland Borough to be held accountable for not being stringent enough in its dealings with the failed company and preventing the situation.

Borough councillor Mike Byatt said: “I want to know how we got ourselves in to this situation.

“Any risk assessments and contracts should have made sure that the provider would be held responsible for all costs if they were unable to deliver.

“It’s poor management on behalf of the council because the contracts drawn up with Mainsail should have ensured we were not left in this position.

“Mainsail has just been able to walk away and we’ve had to pick up the pieces. This has been a kick in the teeth.

“This is not just another of the council’s mistakes – we are talking about something major.

“It comes right in the middle of the Olympics when the eyes of the world are on Weymouth – it’s a disaster.

“We are going to be asking some serious questions.”

  • COUNCIL brief holder for tourism and culture, Ian Bruce, said: “Council officers were not in any way, shape or form in the loop about Bayside losing money until Monday, when Joe Hall said he wasn’t getting enough people through the doors.

“The council got behind them and mentioned the festival in every release it sent out about council-run entertainment during the Games. It was an established company that had run other events. It was a private enterprise.

“We are really sad that it’s gone wrong but it’s not the council’s responsibility.

“We sub-contract things to private businesses because they take the risk and it doesn’t risk tax payers’ money.

“We should be relieved that the council did not take that risk and it was the responsibility of a private company.”

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council director of resource, Jason Vaughan said: “The council as landowner of the area issued a formal tender opportunity for event management companies to stage a family orientated attraction during the Olympic sailing events.

“The tender we received from Mainsail was subject to our standard checks.

“We are not able to make specific comments about the contractual arrangement between the council and the contractor. “Further questions about why the Bayside Festival closed should be referred to Mainsail’s management team.”

TRADERS FUMING AFTER BEING LEFT IN THE DARK

TRADERS are still angry at the way they have been treated.

Mark Bennett of Bennett’s on the Waterfront, said: “We’ve heard absolutely nothing – it’s disgusting.

“We’ve had no apology from Mainsail.

“I find it absolutely amazing the council’s Simon Williams – the 2012 head of operation for Weymouth and Portland – who I was talking to at my stall only the day before, didn’t have the guts to come down and see us.”

He added: “I think Mainsail were probably badly advised and tried to make the event work.

“But they didn’t bother to let us know they were in trouble .”

Anthony Lee, of Snowdonia Cheese, said: “I haven’t heard a thing. Mainsail knew there were problems and got the council involved but it was very naughty to just pull the plug like that.

“A lot of people have lost a lot of money.”

Nigel James of Shelly’s Bakery, said: “We’ve not heard a thing.

“I’m still really cross that the council couldn’t have offered the traders anywhere else to trade during the Olympics.

“They just washed their hands of it.”