A COUNCILLOR has sparked a war of words with the organisers of A-Fest after questioning whether the event provided ‘value for money’.

Speaking to the Andover Advertiser this week, Test Valley borough councillor Chris Lynn says he has sent e-mails to festival organisers asking for the overall cost of A-Fest, as well as official attendance figures for the event.

As reported in last Friday’s paper, it is believed that the cost of festival which took place in Andover High Street a fortnight ago, totalled in the region of £12,000.

It is understood that around £6,000 was given as part of a National Lottery grant, while £1,000 was granted by local councillors on behalf of Test Valley Borough Council.

Cllr Lynn claims that only around ‘40 people’ were seen attending the festival at any one time, making the cost around ‘£300 per person’.

He said: “I’ve asked the organisers if I can have some information on the event, I’m just questioning whether that is value for money.”

“I know two of the bands are used to playing in front of full houses so they must have been so disappointed with the turnout.”

The questioning has angered one of the organisers of the event, Geoff McBride, who labelled Cllr Lynn’s actions as ‘really poor’.

He said: “I’m not comfortable with Chris Lynn going around pooling information to try and support a view he already has. He says only 40 people turned up and I admit at some point the turnout was low but I think we estimated around 1,000 people throughout the day.

“If Chris is having a go at A-Fest he’s having a go at the Youth Council too.”