CHANGES will be made to next year's Felixstowe Carnival following a stream of complaints about this summer's big event.Organisers have apologised to revellers angry and disappointed that they did not see the parade because it had a new route or the fireworks, which were blighted by the weather and hidden by trees.

CHANGES will be made to next year's Felixstowe Carnival following a stream of complaints about this summer's big event.

Organisers have apologised to revellers angry and disappointed that they did not see the parade because it had a new route or the fireworks, which were blighted by the weather and hidden by trees.

But they have also hit back at people who complained that they had to pay to enter Langer Park.

The park staged a packed programme of sparkling entertainment and the funfair and adults were charged £1 to enter with children free. If people kept their tickets they could come and go as they pleased all weekend and not pay again.

Carnival secretary Richard Stewart said the attractions at the park – which included a wild west show, strongman display, Egyptian dancing, live bands and a disco, and fireworks – had costs thousands of pounds to stage.

Even the free RAF Jaguar air display over the seafront had cost £1,500.

The carnival association had to raise all the money to stage the event, with the main aim to then have enough left over to make donations to charity.

When the event was held on the seafront – as it has been for the past decade – there was often only a funfair and people were encouraged to donate to help pay for the fireworks, which many did not do.

"Staging an event of the size of that witnessed for the carnival takes thousands of pounds," said Mr Stewart.

"The acts, the firework company, security, sound, lighting, crowd control barriers, the park, additional toilets, staging and so on are not free!

"Yes, the carnival is for Felixstowe, but please let us not forget the real reason – the charities and deserving causes.

"Complaining about paying £1 per adults, with children free? I am sorry, but despite the issue with the fireworks, could those people who complained not see what else was on offer at the park?"

The committee accepted the problems with the fireworks and the procession not going all the way down Langer Road and apologised. However, the weekend was still a huge success.

"This was the first weekend of its kind as far as the current committee is concerned and we all knew that it would be a learning curve," said Mr Stewart.

"A full debrief will be undertaken over the next few weeks and changes will be made for next year's event.

"The nature of these changes will be publicised well in advance of next year's carnival and decisions relating to the use of the park, the procession route and the fireworks will be made, taking every factor into consideration."

n What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk