Cricket: Council holds talks on future of cricket week

A cloud of uncertainty has hung over the event since the Echo revealed earlier this year that Essex was considering the future of the Southend event and its other festivals at Colchester and Ilford.

The threat to the five-day event came to a head when CE Heath decided to pull out of Southend and take its festival sponsorship with it.

This year's event, due to run from August 30 until September 3, will go ahead although the club will not guarantee its future.

Council cabinet member in charge of sport and leisure, Tony North, said on Friday: "We have been having talks with the cricket club and plans have been put forward which will go to the cabinet meeting next week.

"The Southend cricket festival, when local people have a chance to see first class cricketers on their doorstep, is an important part of the town's leisure strategy.

"We are determined that the cricket festival will remain in Southend for the foreseeable future."

Earlier this year former Essex player David East, who is now a club officials, said Heath's withdrawal from the festival was a major blow and the club would have to consider its options.

The county is also concerned about the hidden costs of staging the festival, such as preparing the pitch and transport from Chelmsford to Southend, which come in addition to money spent during the event itself.

Uncertainty over the festival and the fact that it has move from its traditional July date to later in the summer has also led clubs, such as the Naval and Military in Royal Terrace and the Estuary in London Road and Leigh, considering whether to pull out because it is late in the season and the usual crowds are unlikely to be attracted.

The clubs have regularly had marquees for members at the event.

Essex's acting secretary Malcolm Field was unavailable for comment.

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