Northampton Borough Council has confirmed this year's festival made a total loss of £177,000.
Following news of the massive cost of the festival, the leader of the council's minority Labour group, Councillor Keith Davies (Lab, Ecton Brook) last ni
ght warned the event must not be simply scaled down like the town's Christmas lights.
He said: "We've basically lost the Christmas lights, if we lose the Balloon Festival as well we may as well shut the doors on Northampton and all go home.
"The council's got a duty to put the event on next year. It's an icon for Northampton and if we lose it, we'll never get it back."
He was backed by the deputy leader of the opposition at the Guildhall, Councillor David Palethorpe (Con, Billing)
He said: "They said they could bring the festival in for £75,000 and it would be the best one ever. Now they're saying they can't even confirm whether or not it will go ahead next year.
"After losing most of the Christmas lights, it's like they're saying we'll empty your bins and pick up the rubbish, but we're not doing anything else for Northampton."
Former MP and current independent member of the council, Councillor Tony Clarke (Ind, Castle) blamed the festival's decline on the decision to charge entry for the event. He said: "The decision to charge has backfired on them."
The full article contains 261 words and appears in Northampton Chron & Echo newspaper.
