Sarah Heyland, niece of the owner of Reigate company Heyland & Whittle, was happy with the business it did at the fair. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0846704)

RED tape and rising costs are said to be threatening the future of one of Beau Sejour’s major annual events.

The Festival of Arts and Crafts – formerly the National Crafts Fair – has been coming to Guernsey for 23 years. This year’s event, which finished on Sunday, was held over four days instead of five in an effort to reduce costs.

More than 70 exhibitors were represented this year, 21 of them for the first time, but Jersey-based organiser Ian Barnes said six others had decided to miss the Guernsey part of the fair and go to Jersey only.

‘I get a lot of complaints [from traders] about the level of bureaucracy and the amount of time involved in filling in paperwork,’ he said.

Exhibitors had to acquire a Sunday trading permit from the St Peter Port constables as well as a hawker’s licence from the police. The latter required two references and Mr Barnes said he had to attend court.

‘I spend so much time chasing people’s paperwork as if it’s not in by 28 August they cannot trade,’ he said. ‘These are all very busy people and they just don’t have this sort of thing in the UK.’

He said it would be easier if everything could be consolidated on one form. Mr Barnes estimated that the Guernsey and Jersey fairs together put about £250,000 into the local economies.

Culture and Leisure minister Mike O’Hara was surprised to hear of the concerns raised by Mr Barnes.

‘It comes as a surprise to us. We didn’t have any knowledge of any complaints at all,’ he said.

‘We would welcome the organiser to come and discuss this with our operations manager.’