Ormskirk Motorfest 2012: West Lancs Council agrees to provide increased subsidy.

The Ormskirk Motorfest 2011 was a reported success, with additional visitors to Ormskirk on the day estimated to have swelled by around 10,000 people in comparison with a typical market day.  It is reported this week that West Lancashire Council recently agreed to proviide funding for the 2012 Ormskirk Motorfest.

Ormskirk Motorfest 2011 preview day at the Clocktower.

The decision has effectively given the go ahead, once again, for the event.  Althought the council subsidy is almost double to that of last year.  In 2011 some of the other event 'partners' provided their services for free.  This year the economic times are tougher, budgets are tighter and if the event is to go ahead, the council has been asked to dig deeper into the coffer filled by local taxpayers.  However, the council is hoping that the advertising sold in event programmes will offset some or all of this financial outlay.

Ormskirk Motorfest 2011

In my opinion.....
There are bound to be questions asked among local residents relating to the council commiting to spend their taxes in this manner.

What was the financial impact of last year's event for the town? What other positive benefits did the event bring to local businesses and residents?  Local households have less money to spend and unemployment has hit many families.  Event organisers and council decision makers, must put rhetoric and hype to one side and present a detailed, public and evidence based case for this tax expenditure.

Ormskirk Motorfest preview 2011

Ormskirk Motorfest preview 2011, a set on Flickr.

Preview of the Ormskirk Motorfest 2011 taken on 18th August 2011 by the clocktower on Market Day.

These images were taken by Matthew J Wright for Qlocal Ormskirk.

Ormskirk Motorfest 2011 - Sunday 28th August story follow up from Aintree Circuit Club:
Ormskirk witnessed the biggest event ever to be held in the town when it was blessed with bright sunshine and only the occasional very light shower which brought an estimated 15 000 people into the town for a fantastic free family day out.
The displays of classic, vintage, competition cars and bikes in Aughton Street and Moor Street were absolutely packed with people of all ages with young familes enjoying a great day out to motorsport enthusiasts getting up close to the fabulous selection of machinery that Aintree Circuit Club had managed to attract to this new event.
It was a similar story in Coronation Park, which was filled with even more vintage, classic and modern supercars including a fabulous Ferrari Enzo.
The parades in the afternoon ran to plan with just a reduction in “track time” for the competition machinery to keep things on schedule to comply with the tight road closing timings.
BTCC favourite Tom Boardman delighted the thousands of spectators lining the route by lighting up the tyres of his works SEAT Leon, putting even wider smiles on everybody’s faces.
The event has been declared an outstanding success by all concerned and we look forward to making an announcement re the future of this great event.