Leeds moves to scrap two major music events

The cancellation of Party in the Park and Opera in the Park would represent the most high- profile casualties yet of Leeds City Council’s budget cuts.

While the combined cost of the two events is just £200,000, city leaders feel the council’s support is increasingly hard to justify when they have to find money to fund key services such as care for the elderly and child protection. The council says the cash it receives from the Government is being cut by 10 per cent for the year ahead.

Council leader Keith Wakefield said: “Party in the Park and Opera in the Park have been some of our jewels in the crown when it comes to cultural events and have been really well supported by people local and regionally. However, the financial pressures on the council are so difficult that we have been left with very little choice and have to say we cannot sustain these events alone given the level of Government cuts.”

But the council would look at the events’ future again if sponsors could be found. It is understood efforts to find sponsors for the two events have failed. Both were free until 2011 when ticket charges were introduced for Opera in the Park, with the council following suit for Party in the Park last year.