A local trader is outraged at the increase in the cost of a stall at this year's Glastonbury Festival.
Sarah Darbyshire has sold her hand-made clothes at her Funky Chick stall in the festival's Green Fields for several years. She also sells them at her boutique, Bedlam, on Benedict Street in Glastonbury.
Sarah said: "This year the price for having a stall at the festival has gone up from around �550 to �800. That is a �250 rise in a year of full-on recession, especially in retail.
"I am quite disgusted by it. I found out on Friday when I received confirmation that I could have a stall. There was no warning.
"I have had a stall at Glastonbury for over 15 years. My stall is one of a handful that produces their own clothing. We can't be expected to pay as much as the mass importers.
"Smaller producers can't compete with cheap imports from China, etc, and will be priced out. The Green Fields used to have a star rating system for stall holders about five years ago. Every year we got a five star rating for Fair Trade and making our own goods."
Laura Merritt, a textile artist from Street, makes her own fabrics which Sarah uses in her clothes. Laura, who was with Sarah on her stall last year, said: "The prices for stalls are outrageous."
Glastonbury Festival spokesman Dick Vernon said: "We go out of our way to support local businesses, as was proven by the independent Economic Impact Survey. We do take into account prices for local people and try to choose them as a first choice, wherever possible.
"Mass importers pay significantly higher prices than smaller producers like Sarah.
"Fees are decided on an individual basis. We take into account the size of the stall, the frontage, the number of staff, type of organisation, products being sold and so on, as explained on our website in the information for traders section.
"We are consciously doing an enormous amount of work with Fair Trade (on teas, coffees and sugar and chocolate and also work with Greenpeace). We have worked with progressing Fair Trade issues with Oxfam over the years and also work with Greenpeace on sustainable issues."
The Economic Impact Survey was commissioned by Mendip District Council (and carried out by Baker Associates).
There is a link to the report on the Glastonbury Festival website www.gla stonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/ed ucational-resources/economic-impact-s urvey-2007 or the Mendip council website, www.mendip.gov.uk.
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