We now have a huge dilemma - although this Tuesday we were granted the entertainment licences for the event in two weeks time (Sat 8th) but it is now entirely dependent on coming to some agreement with Lambeth over the massive fees and deposit being demanded by their Parks Department for the "use of the park". Last year Parks charged us 52p per head of expected crowds. This year it has gone up to £1.40p per person. If we were granted the 50% non-commercial discount then we would be fine. Currently Lambeth want £7,000 'use of park' and £5,000 'deposit'. Normally the deposit is 15% of the fee, but for us it is around 80%! They have said they want this by Friday 23rd or they will not allow the event (although the march will still be going ahead).

We are £5,300 short on the fees and need another £3,000 deposit! HELP

After the court case taken out by Lambeth Council against the festival organisers last year, and now the huge rise in costs of use of park and deposit increases we really get the feeling that someone might be out to get us out. And it looks like the Council Executive of LibDems and Conservatives are doing it. We have set ourselves until Monday to raise the £5,300 and still have sufficient funds to responsibly start the festival and be able to pay for services, toilets, stewards etc. The full, publically-available budget is set out website here:  http://www.thecannabisfestival.co.uk/budget_2004.html. As you can see the figures include the asked for not-for-profit charges and a 60% deposit and the whole event is very finely balanced to break even. If we don't get the money in - or Lambeth refuse to be reasonable - we can't really go ahead without being in debt all year and taking hugh risks with the weather and turnout etc, but whatever happens the march *will* still take place, and a large picnic, but little else.

An appeal to the people and councillors of Lambeth

We are appealing to Lambeth councillors to grant the discretionary 50% not-for-profit rate to the event and apply the normal 15% rule on deposits.
It is our belief that the majority of councillors and of the local public support this free event. All the concerns and objections - from local and park user groups, the police and emergency services and council officers - have all been met for this event and money and volunteers have been raised and recruited to put this event on. It is only the unreasonable demands for money - increased from 52p per head last year to 140p per head this year - plus an additional 85% deposit rather than the standard 15% for all other events in local parks - that now threatens to kill the event.

An appeal to everyone who supports or sympathises with this event

We are appealing to everyone who sympathises or supports this event to help us with the fees and/or deposit. We have set up a special "Save The Festival" fund for people to loan or donate. Money given specifically for the returnable deposit will be returned to donors when Lambeth return the deposit (the festival has never lost any of its deposit in any previous years)

* If you feel able to make a straightforward donation/gift we need £5,300 more for this.

* If you can only help with the returnable deposit - we need £3,000 more for this - please mark your payment "For the returnable deposit" (either on the back of any cheque or post it as an additonal message when making the online payment).

Payment methods

By post: Cheques payable to "Cannabis Coalition" can be posted to: David Crane, 87 Goddard Place, London N19 5GT
Online: Credit/Debit/Switch Cards can be used by clicking here:  http://www.accessallareas.org/cannabisfestival/ (via Access-All-Areas)
If you can't use any of these methods, or you are having any problems or queries please call: 0208 671 5936

Other ways of helping

If you feel hard done by, cos we do, then do email the Lib Dem Council leader  PTruesdale@lambeth.gov.uk and ask him to recognise us as a not for profit group and please to not price us out of Lambeth. We are also awaiting a legal opinion from Liberty on prohibitive charging.

We are currently doing some targeted fundraising today/tomorrow/this weekend at ‘rich and famous’ celebrities, musicians, liberal lawyers, ‘senior police officers’, politicians and anyone else who has gone on record positively about cannabis or would be likely to be sympathetic and able to help. If anyone has any contacts who may be able to help or if you can suggest anyone it would be worth contacting please send PMs to teejay or shanec - or you could even email them this info yourselves maybe!

PS: We *are* going to win!