More than 70 campaigners voiced their anger outside Ealing Town Hall on Tuesday (April 12) in response to cuts to the Ealing Jazz Festival.

The campaigners, who packed the gallery during a full council meeting, included brass band players and supporters waving banners displaying the message "Save Our Ealing Jazz Festival".

They are angry at the cuts that will see the 30-year festival, part of the the Ealing Summer Festivals events, reduced from five days to two and to drop its co-founder, Dick Esmond .

Head of the campaign Andrew Butcher, who has been playing at the festival for 20 years, said 1,800 people have now signed a petition opposing the cuts.

Mr Butcher, who has lived in Ealing for 25 years, quizzed Labour Cllr Bassam Mahfouz at the meeting on its loss of sponsorship, transfer of financial risk and economic grounds for the cuts.

He said: "We recognise the need for the council to cut costs, but are concerned that the decisions taken are not based on a sound business case.

"What is the financial detail supporting claims by the council that cutting only the jazz festival, with loss of revenue from admissions, concessions from the bar, food and other outlets, will still reduce cost by at least £45,000?

"There are so few opportunities for people in Ealing to play good music live, people come into the park and have a good time and it is good for traders."

'Poor attendance has cost council money'

Campaigners believe The Event Umbrella (TEU), who are the festivals organisers, is the only remaining sponsor and they would like to know how much the deal is worth.

They also called for proof that the council will be saving money by making the cuts.

According to Mr Butcher, evidence of cost was not provided at the meeting and several questions ignored - a claim denied by Cllr Mahfouz.

Cllr Mahfouz, who argued the "poor" attendance for the three days being cut has cost the council money, said the council's spending has now been capped at £72,000.

Any costs, which he said were previously topping £162,000, that surpass the cap of £72,000 will have to be covered by TEU and he added he was confident they were financially prepared.

Cllr Mahfouz added: "The council has had to make savings of over £180m in the past few years.

"Despite most councils cancelling their summer events programme altogether, we have put together a deal that will secure the Jazz Festival for years to come.

"I am delighted that we will be offering a full weekend of live open-air jazz in Walpole Park with three quarters of the number of acts we have had in previous years.

"The changes means we will save council tax payers well over £50,000 a year, including not running the jazz on weeknights, which had previously lost significant amounts of money and not well attended."