A freedom of information request has revealed just how much revenue Herefordshire Council makes from the May Fair, as well as how much money it costs to move the planters in the city centre.
The figures are for 2023, so may be slightly different for 2024 & 2025, but they give a good indicator of the costs involved.
How much revenue is paid by the May Fair?
A) 2023 = £43,000
The cost of removing and re-sitting the planters back to their original place.
A) 2023 = £25,083.42
The loss of revenue in from Gaol Street car park whilst storing the planters.
A) 2023 = £1,512
In response to a different freedom of information request, Herefordshire Council confirmed that the fair ‘do not pay for the removal of street furniture and just pay a flat fee for the fair to visit Hereford’ – as can be seen below:
The fee charged to the Showman’s Guild in 2022 and 2023 for the May Fair was as follows:
Leominster: £7,000
Hereford: £43,000
‘Please note that this is a flat fee, they do not pay for the removal of street furniture.
‘In 2022 the costs for the temporary relocation of plants and planters and their return was £8,331.88.’
