Southend Cricket Festival

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Culture and Tourism, Derek Jarvis, said he was "shocked and disappointed" at the decision.

He said: "I am deeply disappointed at the decision of Essex County Cricket Club's General Committee not to stage the festival at Garon Park next year.

"The Council has worked extremely hard over the years with Essex CCC, the festival committee, the Garon Trust and other partners to ensure the Southend Cricket Festival continues to be successful and financially sustainable.

"Fans of the game from south and south east Essex want to watch first class cricket in Southend and Garon Park has proved a hugely popular location.

"Attendances have improved year on year, exceeding those for similar events in Chelmsford and Colchester, and the players tell us they like the venue.

"Around 4,800 people attended the three days of championship cricket in Southend in 2011. This compares with an average of around 3,000 per match at Chelmsford.

"And in 2011 Southend attracted by far the highest attendance by non-members for CB40 games.

"The profit made by the festival from 2008 to 2011 was around £60,000 - this compares with a small loss at the Colchester festival over the same period.

"The umpires regularly give good marks for the wicket at Garon Park so there are no significant cricketing reasons why the festival should not continue.

"I am very surprised that Essex CCC didn't see fit to consult with the Council prior to arriving at this decision.

"The General Committee said that it had decided on balance that the interests of its members were best served by moving the festival to Chelmsford.

"I can't see how that can be true bearing in mind how many of its members from the south of the county will be deeply disappointed by this decision."

"This long established event is a treasured part of Southend's sporting calendar and I urge ECCC to reconsider the matter immediately."