Letter: Show is just for well-off
Thursday 20th August 2009, 7:00AM BST.
Letter: I would have liked to attend this year’s Shrewsbury Flower Show. However, the show organisers seemed to have had a lapse of memory or do not care that we are in a global recession.
I could not have justified having paid £19 for an adult ticket to have been admitted between 10am and 2pm or £16 after 2pm.
The show, in my personal opinion, is mainly for tourists and for the “well-off” people of Shrewsbury who can easily afford to pay these admission charges.
Name and address supplied
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I have two young children (under 2) and my wife wanted to take them to the show. At £38 or £32 (in advance) that is a lot to spend for a few hours bearing in mind that is all that my children would want to be there for. Is there compensation for people/families who are unable to enjoy the freedom of a public park during the show?
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Yes, I agree, and what’s more, having to pay such high entry fees to get into our so-called public park! It’s a joke.
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Typical Shropshire moans.£19.00 for adults and kids for free is a snip compaired to a day out at say Warick Castle and followed by the Fireworks etc.Get real.
Pepole will never be happy in Shropshire becasuse they do not know what real hardship is.
The Horticultral Society might be very middle class and old in their ways but they have done a lot for the town over the years.
The quarry is an asset to Shrewsbury and sometimes it is free other times it is for pay events. Where, oh were do you think the funds to run the place come from or should the Tax payer pay for everthing so the few realy tight pepole who do not want to pay for anything can go for free. Even better lets have nothing on in the town then they can complain there is nothing on.In life you can not always afford to do every thing you want but that is a fact of life we all have to live with.
God bless Shropshire and all who moan in her.
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Although not realy my cup of tea the price of the tickets are not to bad compared to some of the larger game fairs/shows we pay to go too , however i think mr armstrong is missing the point if people are on a basic pension the gates would be closed, if people are unemployed through what ever cause the gates are closed. Does the flower show bring money in to the town??? ask the traders i think you will get the answer no .And as for the comment the horticultral society may be middle class and old in their ways ? well the people who run it may be or see themselves as so called middle class but the majority invloved and attending are infact working class and anything that remains old in their ways dies time for new blood and a few changes .
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In response to Mr Armstrong. Don’t get me wrong, i think the show is great for Shrewsbury. From my point of view, what I do not agree with is a standard tariff which precludes the vast majority of young families in Shrewsbury from enjoying a few hours at the show. In response to Mr Armstrong, put yourself in the position of a young parent and what would your opinion be – although i assume the response will be that if you can’t afford to go then that is that (accept it as a fact of life). For the record, I am fortunate enough to be able to afford entry but to spend only a few hours atthe show is costly.
In response to the comment on how the park is funded, i am sure that the public purse pays a significant proportion (if not all) of the cost to manage the park – the additional income from the show pays for the additional costs that come as a consequence of hosting the show. If the council is strapped of a few quid, then maybe it should re-direct un-necessary spending to the quarry. For example, a poorly commissioned Darwin memorial (let’s wait and see how much that costs following a dispute with the design team/contractor). And yes, I am having a moan about the Darwin memorial – something simple would have been more than satisfactory.
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Scrap the utter waste of money on polluting fire works and reduce the entry cost.
This year, as in most year several owls were blasted to death out of the sky leaving their nest bound chicks to die of starvation.
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I live in Shropshire Charles and I am not well off, I totally agree with what you are saying, you can’t afford to do everything in life. If you want these things you have to work for them. Why should me and my husband as hard working tax payers pay to subsidise other people to get in! Yes it is a public park but someone has to pay to keep it a public park! I totally enjoyed the flower show and think the organisers work extremly hard to make it such a successful event every year, it must cost a fortune to organise! Unforetunatly it is a way of life that you have to pay for things and they can’t be free all of the time.
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The last time I went was about 15 years ago. It was expensive then but not like it is now.
I went with my Dad and we managed to get several fushia cuttings from new varieties, so all in all it wasn’t so bad and the fireworks weren’t as noisy.
Although we did buy one of those over priced kithen ‘aids’ that takes 2 seconds to slice a carrot then 45mins to get it apart and clean it.
This year I was 20 miles away and could hear fireworks!
Does the Horticultural Society or the Council have an envirinmental noise policy?
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buy your tickets early well worth the money loads to see , just think how much it cost to bring the bands to the town.
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I find some Mr Armstrong’s comments extremely patronising, I am sure that there are a number of people experiencing hardship at present.
The Society does subsidise ticket prices for certain groups of people – who may not actually experiencing financial hardship
Mr Armstrong – not everyone can be as fortunate as yourself, or other people in positions of power such as MP’s and Councillors who may well claim the monies back.
Taxpayers I believe do subsidise the wonderful flower displays in town – how else does the horticultural function operate at the new premises at Weeping Cross.
Mr Armstrong – be a bit more thoughtful and not so patronising.
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Mr Armstrong I find some of the points you raised rather patronising – there are people in Shropshire who through no fault of their own are suffering real financial hardship at present.
Mr Armstrong do you pay to get into the Flower Show ! or do you gain FREE access due to a particular role that you play in the Town !
So as many ways you are on another planet populated by MP’s, Councillors and Bankers where reality does not exist.
I wonder what the cost is to the taxpayer for running the Horticultural facility at Weeping Cross.
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So would you say that Shrewsbury Town FC is only for the well off too? Prices for tickets are similar and for only a couple of hours entertainment. However many not so well off people manage to go week in week out. This is the price you have to pay for things these days.
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In today’s society, when events are staged, one is expected to pay an entrance fee to go towards the costs. However, the marketing and promotion of this event is all wrong.
There should be different fees for adults, depending upon circumstances, and family tickets which would encourge more young people to attend.
As for #3, sir, your comments are both patronising and contradictory, as you too are moaning!
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As an exhibitor in the quarry marquee, if you had ordered tickets in advance, you would have got in for £16 for the whole day. If you had paid on the gate from Friday 6pm, you would have only paid £9.50. This would have still given you 3 hours to view all the marquees and see the fantastic fireworks display. Do you have kids? They would have been allowed in free.
Also, the Shropshire Horticultural society suppoarts from the proceeds worthy good causes around the Shrewsbury area as a direct benefit to the community.
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Lucy W,
I love your comments and look forward to them whenever I see them…
Always well structured and to the point.
Keep it up!!!!
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I have just realised from Mr Breeze’s comment that Mr Armstrong could well be the councillor Armstrong.
If so, no wonder he has no personal concerns regarding how much it costs to gain access to such events – for reasons that i shall let the public consider for themselves.
I invite Mr Armstrong to respond to my comment on how the park is funded – he implies that the show funds the management of the park without public funding. I am sure, given Mr Armstrong’s position as a public servant that he is apsolutley correct, although i would like him to clarify that.
Also, Mr Armstrong may as well clarify the latest position on the Darwin Memorial.
Has it ever occured to Mr Armstrong that the “Shropshire moaners” are a consequence of the political mess this country is in.
People of Shropshire, according to Mr Armstrong, we are all very well off (as we do not know what hardship is) and we don’t realise how lucky we are. Come on everyone let’s cough up the £25 for next year’s event – or are we “really tight”? Mr Armstrong you should be embarrased.
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if you think ahead and buy tickets in advance they are cheaper and children are free.
i dont think it is just for the well off.
if you dont like the price-dont go
it depends if you think you are fetting value doesnt it?
i went this year, as every year with my children and i thought it was value for money.
stop moaning and be glad we have a great event to put shrewsbury on the map!!!
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I attended for the first time and bought tickets in advance. We were there from 10 am until 10 pm and had a fantastic days entertainment. How much is it to get into The Pro Star stadium for 90 minutes of football?
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I have a youngish family, and at the present time, not a lot of money to spare. My family wanted to goto the flower show. So, as a responsible parent,I planned ahead, i sacraficed some of my other “luxuries” and we had a fantastic time. If a pensioner/unemployed, or whoever else who is short cashed, really wants to go to the flower show, may I make a suggestion. Put 50p a way each week, and by the time next years comes, you will have enough money.
All most things require are a bit of planning.
As for the fireworks Lucy W, they were outstanding, and you didnt even ahve to pay to hear them ! aren’t you lucky ? for one day do you think you can comment without whinging ? didnt think so!! keep smiling !
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If people join the correct clubs, organisations, and the like you can get free tickets/ guests etc to many of the top shows . I had free tickets for chelsea, and the royal show and burwarton and the pagent of power at a castle whos name elludes me all good days out just get involved and and join the correct clubs oh and enter the odd comp.
I remember a councillor moaning about people watching a concert in the park a few yeras ago her gripe they hadnt paid and watched from the other side of the river…how many councillors got in to that event for free???
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You can get into the Sunday market for free.
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My family and i went to the flower show this year yes the price was a bit steep but the kids do go FREE..it was a lovely day out for all of us but i do think the food prices in there was wrong £2.50 for a cone of chips i mean really just for a cone….then there was the fact that when we went as kids there was alot more fun things for us to do at the show….where has all the free sticker’s and all you free goodie bag’s the colouring competition’s, fun and game’s, pen’s and the fair gone???????..yes put the price up thats fine but dont forget about the fun for all the family bit….after a hour my kids wanted to go home because there was nothing there for them to do really..yes there was a magic man but once you had seen him do his magic once that got a bit boring too..as for the clown that was walking around he didnt even want to talk to the kid’s he was far to busy looking at young lady’s and what he could see down there top’s..
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Mark and Richard it seems to slip your attention that I did not stand at the last election hence now I can speek my mind.
Yes I pay and always have paid for entry to the flower show, theatre Severn, OMH and the concerts though I have not been to the flower show for some time now. As for the Darwin package and all the other things I have done over the last 12 years I stand by them all.
As for Shropshire moaners yes they , you ,moan a lot and many do not realise compaired to most of the country how well off we are all to live here.This has been my point and always will be, simple rather than moan use that same energy and get off your what ever and do something about it then pepole can have a moan at you !!
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I paid £9.50 for Saturday night’s entertainment and the firework display at Shrewsbury Flower Show.
Myself (52) and my son (16) were both moved to tears by the beauty of the display set to music, it was poetry in the sky.
I have been attending the show with my family for 20 years now, and each year the display has got better, each year we say “They can never beat that” and they always do. This year was the very best ever, using music improves the display 100%. By far this was the best evenings entertainment I have had for a very long time.
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If you cannot afford it, don’t go! Money from the Shropshire Horticultural Society does pay for a lot of the upkeep of the Quarry Park, not just as a result of the Flower Show.
Whoever wrote the letter in the first place should sort their priorities out if they really want to go.
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Went to the show Saturday after 2pm and paid £32 for my wife and myself and thought it was a tad steep, my wife commented it seemed quieter than previous years? perhaps if they did drop the prices more people would attend and spend a few more quid whilst inside?
Loved the comments by Lucy W mainly because I always buy these so called miracle devices that only seem to work the first time! and once dismantled never go back together :-( lesson is to keep out of the Cider tent hic
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I went to the Flower Show this year for the first time in probably 20 years. It’s not really my cup of tea as in many ways it’s twee and too quintessentially English. It’s expensive to get in and concessions should be extended. It is also ridiculously expensive at many of the stand – nearly £3.00 for a coffee – to start with; and if, as I did, you go with a family, you can spend a small fortune on refreshments alone. That having been said I did enjoy it and would guess that most of the expense is absorbed in costs. It still excludes a good many people although the balance on Saturday night seemed to be across the social spectrum as far as I could tell.
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The show runs on just four paid fulltime staff and well over 100 volenteers who don’t get paid a penny. These people give up weeks in the planning. The show is 122 years old and gives 70,000 people each year a lot of pleasure for 12 hours each day and children up to sixteen go free!! Shame on you moaners. oh yes…I bet you did’nt know that the society gave away over £300,000 to local charities in 2008 and hundreds of thousands in the years before that too….how very sad you moaners are. Sorry you could not enter the park for two days a year free – its must have been so hard for you to cope with!
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I have just read all the above with interest. We all know the dates for the flower show well in advance. Like every thing in this life it doesn`t get cheaper. So you save for the day and enjoy it the best you can. As many have said you could of got your ticketsonline and got them cheaper…..and if you don`t have a pc then everyone know`s someone who has. As for Mr Armstrongs comments….well we are all allowed free speech, that`s why people are dying in battle at this time, for the likes of you and to say what we like. As for people paying the entry fee, i orked at the Flower Show for many years and saw many a local counciller walk straight through the gates and not pay, along with many other so called important people. Why is it that the people who can afford to pay dont have to?
The flower show is one of the best in the country and i hope it lasts for many years to come. I couldn`t make it this year as i now work outside the uk.
Keep up the good work and let`s stop moaning about things that are good for the Town.
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I like to think of it as expressing an opinion – rather than moaning. Do MP’s and councillors moan or do they express opinions?
END.
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EX councillor armstrong you said,
“Mark and Richard it seems to slip your attention that I did not stand at the last election hence now I can speek my mind”
So you are saying when you were a councillor you were not saying what you were realy thinking or thought on different issues but what you thought the public wanted to hear???in order to keep your seat. Is that honest??
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£19.00 to watch some top class show jumping! Bargain! Flowers are not my thing but if they are im sure thats worth the money too! if you cant afford it or dont want to pay that much dont go! Simple!
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Mr Finch you really should get out more, I have yet to find any politician be it ward councillor or MP who speaks their mind, they are only interested in their own personal transport, be it by not rocking the boat or climbing aboard a lucrative gravy train!
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I know what it’s like to have a young family and not be able to afford to take them to events such as this, but there are some good tips here for gaining entry if you really want to go and you’re on a tight budget. Also, it’s not really overpriced when you compare it to the football industry and tourist attractions elsewhere that can charge quite ridiculous fees, although the prices for food and beverages are typically English – which is to say – a galling and completly unashamed rip off. It’s something you need to remember if you can afford entry because there’s nothing like having to refuse a child a drink or an ice cream to ruin the whole day. Firework displays are often better watched for free, from a distance and if all else fails, you don’t have to travel very far in Shropshire to find a really good spot for a home made picnic and somewhere for the kids to expend their energy. My family can recount a sack full of such memories which cost me next to nothing to create, but except that they went there and it cost Dad a lot of money, they would struggle to tell you anything at all about Edinburgh Castle or the Tower of London!
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Norman have a little faith in some people
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