The Darker Side to the Literature Festival.

Everyone is celebrating the Cheltenham Literature Festival,

and the big name brands and stars of politics, comedy and of course literature.

And so they should. It is a great event that is surpassing itself each year. But

as the big name brands of Waterstones, The Times and Sky get involved, it is

pushing out the festival spirit. I am a local author, and although I accept

that I have not earned a place at the festival, as I cannot compete with the

big names, I was handing out leaflets advertising my own work around the two

parks. As I and a friend who was helping me, walked around the two parks, we

were constantly stopped by festival officials. Because I was advertising a book

which is stocked at Waterstones, those staff allowed us to continue. However,

they assumed it was sanctioned by Waterstones. It was not. I mentioned

Waterstones on the flier, but it was not part of Waterstones' festival

promotional material. In fact I was turfed out of the Waterstones tent in

Imperial Gardens and was not allowed to have my fliers on the till tables. There

is a rule that only books featured in the festival can have promotional

material within the tents. Again, rules are rules. I didn't go quietly though,

but stayed outside of all the tents, including the restaurants and cafes. The rest

of the areas around the gardens, are public areas and I should be allowed to

hand out leaflets. Montpellier Gardens is also my local park and I visit every

day, even during the winter months, to get some air. I like it there. It's a great

place to take five minutes out of a stressful and busy life. But am I really

breaking any laws by handing out fliers, within the park, during the festival?

I did discuss this with festival goers, and tourists, as I walked

round the festival. They all felt that perhaps the corporations sponsoring the

event, had strict terms about who can ply their wares at the festival. But it

is not private land. Or perhaps because the Festival organisers rent the space

it becomes private for the duration of the festival? I don't know. Perhaps a

councillor at Cheltenham Borough Council can answer this question. But what I do

know, is that it goes against the spirit of a festival, when only Sky and other

big sponsors can take part. http://www.vagabondunlimited.blogspot.com