COLCHESTER Council’s culture boss has hit back after organisers of the Colchester Free Festival criticised the council for a lack of support.

Marc De’ath, one of the organisers of the event, said part of the reason why the festival would not run in 2016 was because the council was unwilling to support smaller arts projects.

But the council’s portfolio holder for culture Tim Young said the door was open for Free Festival volunteers to come forward and discuss their concerns with him.

He said: “I am a bit disappointed with Marc De’ath and Andrew Winmill because I know them very well and if they wanted a meeting they have got my phone number and my email address.

“We did help them in 2015, the park rangers and the zone wardens were supportive and helpful to the organisers.

“I have a £20,000 festival budget this year which they could have applied to but they did not.”

Mr Young added: “I am a big supporter of the Free Festival but I think volunteers have to realise the days of coming to the council cap in hand are all but over. The money simply isn’t there.

“There are a lot of working individuals and growing businesses in Colchester who need to start supporting events because we simply haven’t got the money anymore.

“People in Colchester love these events and it would be a sensible business decision for somebody to get out there and put their name to sponsoring or supporting some of these events.”