Angus councillors have rounded on critics who set up an online site to protest against prices at the Arbroath Seafront Spectacular.
Local representatives David Fairweather and Jim Millar voiced their outrage at a Facebook page containing disparaging comments about organiser Arbroath Events, who donate thousands of pounds to charity every year.
The organising committee had been set to make a statement on the issue however, after a meeting it was decided there would be no further comment.
The Seafront Spectacular has been run at Victoria Park for the last eight years, featuring motorcycle stunt shows, helicopter rides and aerobatics, and usually generates at least £5000 for local charities and other worthy organisations.
Comments continued to be made on the internet page last night as the row rumbled on, 10 days after the event was held, with an admission price of £5 for adults.
Mr Fairweather, who is a former committee member of the Spectacular committee, demanded the site’s creator should come forward with an apology.
He said, “If you look at it in terms of the number of people who have joined this site, compared to the number of people actually there, then the percentage complaining is very low.
“What a sickener it is for the good people who have organised this event for the town to be confronted with such unwarranted criticism.
“I would ask these people-have they looked into how much it costs to stage an event of this size? Do they think the barriers go up and the acts appear by magic? Do they think the park clears itself after the event is finished?”
While the event has been free of charge in previous years, spiralling fees have forced the organisers to start charging, with this year’s event costing around £51,000 to stage.
Mr Millar branded some of the statements on the Facebook page as “ludicrously ill-informed and even inflammatory.”
He said, “For the past eight years, a small committee of just four people and many other volunteers have given their time, effort and their own money to put together an event that is an attraction for people from far and wide.
“The Spectacular provides not just a day of entertainment with acts including stunt riders and drivers for just £5, but it also donates money to charity each year.
“It is hugely disappointing that people choose to criticise the event on a social networking page, instead of seeking to engage in a constructive way with the organisers.
“The bottom line is that there are just over 100 people supporting the ‘Against Seafront Spectacular’ page, and 15,000 people actually attending the event. It seems to me that the numbers speak for themselves.
“The organisers do an outstanding job, and they are a credit to the town. I would urge them to keep up the good work.”
North East MSP Alex Johnstone also backed the event and has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating Arbroath Events.
He said, “I find it astonishing that an event on this scale, which costs £51,000 to put on and takes hundreds of man hours to organise, is put together by just four unpaid volunteers Anne Birse, Howard Cargill, Jean Stewart and Wilson Robson as well as an army of helpers who freely give up their time to ensure a safe and successful day for thousands of people.”