Charges to be introduced for first time at annual Walsall festival
Charges are being introduced at an annual summer music festival which attracts thousands of visitors for the first time in its five-year history, it has emerged.
The Bands on the Beacon event will run across a weekend rather than just one day this year, under further planned changes.
But there will be a £4 charge for adults and 'kids for a quid' introduced at the event which will be held at Barr Beacon on June 27 and 28.
It comes as £440,000 Heritage Lottery Funding has run out. The money allowed the council to restore the war memorial and also stipulated it should stage events to attract more people to the site, such as Bands on the Beacon.
However, the Barr Beacon Trust, who organise the event each year, say feedback has shown that people are prepared to pay a small sum so it can continue.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, chairman of Barr Beacon Trust, said: "We know from the feedback that we get each year that people want us to continue putting on Bands on the Beacon and visitors have told us they'd be prepared to pay a small amount if it meant the event could continue.
"We're looking at making a weekend of it in 2015 with bands on both Saturday and Sunday up at Barr Beacon as well as the introduction of stalls to add to the festival feel.
"We're working with local guitarist Wayne Moseley whose band Dinky played at the first festival in 2010 to try and secure sponsorship for the event and we hope local people will get behind us to support it.
"The trust has pledged £5,000 and Wayne's company, BBR Engineering, has put in another £2,000 so we've set the ball rolling.
"Bands on the Beacon is a brilliant day out - ask anyone who's been over the years - and we're all looking forward to making this year's just as enjoyable."
Last year, around 3,000 free tickets were snapped up with numbers restricted due to health and safety reasons.
A line-up for this year's event will be announced shortly and there will also be an opportunity for up-and-coming bands and artists to showcase their talent.
Under fives will be allowed in free. The family friendly festival will run from 1-6pm on both days and will be ticket only.