THE charity behind a doomed Wirral music festival has folded.
Environmental group Eden had lined up big names like former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown and Ray Davies of The Kinks to play at the weekend event in Arrowe Park.
But Wirral Council refused to grant a licence for the event last week over safety fears and the charity is now thousands of pounds in debt and has been forced to go into liquidation.
Dave Pye, one of the organisers, said: "Wirral's decision has pushed us into liquidation. We are so disappointed with the attitude of the council, with a few notable exceptions they have been unhelpful all the way along.
"The council just doesn't seem to care that this was the biggest-ever music event in Wirral and raising funds for charity.
"The police and highways department have both been particularly unhelpful and we are saddened by this attitude of constantly throwing obstacles and objections at Eden."
Eden - the Environmental Development and Education Network - had sold more than 4,000 tickets when the council's licensing panel turned down the entertainment license last Monday just six weeks before the festival.
It means the non-profit company has lost its main source of income as well as losing thousands in deposits they had put down to secure the bands and is now insolvent.
The directors have been forced to petition the county court to wind up the company and put it in the hands of the Official Receiver.
Mr Pye added: "The irony is that since Eden was denied a license we have been approached by two councils in other parts of the country who were so impressed at what Eden had achieved to date that they want us to put on a similar festival in their area.
"What a shame Wirral doesn't feel that way. Unfortunately the collapse of Eden rules a future festival out of the question unless we can find a new financial backer to take on a 2004 festival venture."
