Charity events in jeopardy (From Western Telegraph)

Charity events in jeopardy

Vital fundraising at concerts and music recitals hosted by Pembrokeshire's churches and chapels is under threat from Government plans to license these events. More than 50 events, staged annually at St David's Cathedral, would have to be licensed by Pembrokeshire County Council if the legislation proposed by the Government becomes law. Under the new regulations, all churches and chapels in Pembrokeshire would need a licence to hold events. Many of these are major fundraisers for charities. The cost of the licensing application would have to be passed on to these organisations or absorbed by churches which themselves struggle financially. An initial registration fee of £5,000 has been suggested, together with a £700 annual licensing fee. The Dean of St Davids, the Very Rev J. Wyn Evans, was deeply critical of these proposals. He believed it would not only put an additional financial burden on churches, but would also stifle musical creativity. Organ recitals have been held at the cathedral since 1883. Other events include the cathedral's Festival Week in May. Charities are also encouraged to use the cathedral for fundraising events. "One of the glories of the British culture scene is amateur music-making. That could grind to a halt,'' he predicted. "The experience for schoolchildren and orchestras of performing in a setting such as St David's Cathedral is quite awesome. To have that experience taken away would be a huge loss.'' The cost implication is also a cause of major concern. Churches would almost certainly have to make health and safety improvements to comply with the licence. St David's Cathedral already meets the requirements of health and safety regulations but many other churches don't. They would find it difficult to meet the cost of installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, said the Dean of St David's. Improvements to the structure of these buildings could also be demanded. The Dean hopes the Government will change its mind. "There has been a lot of opposition to this proposal. The Government may back down,'' he said. The Government Bill which proposes this legislation will have its second reading in Parliament in January. Its critics are encouraging people to show their opposition by writing to their MP. CAPTION

The Dean of St Davids, The Very Rev J. Wyn Evans, has spoken out against Government plans to license events held in churches.