PREPARATIONS are under way for two major summer events in St Ives after the town council pledged funding. The town carnival, which will be held on the weekend of July 12/13, was handed £3,000 by the council at its finance meeting last Wednesday. The event

PREPARATIONS are under way for two major summer events in St Ives after the town council pledged funding.

The town carnival, which will be held on the weekend of July 12/13, was handed £3,000 by the council at its finance meeting last Wednesday.

The event had been in some doubt after regular organiser Sylvia Gawthorp stepped down but more volunteers have since come forward.

Shaun Collins, one of the event organisers, said: "It is all systems go for the carnival which is great news and we are pleased that the town council are once again supporting the event."

Saturday sees a carnival procession round the town, ending with at a fairground at Warner's Park in St Ives, while Sunday's event is a free music festival.

The main stage will once again be sponsored by The Hunts Post's Almost Famous column and will feature local bands and singers.

The town's annual riverside gala will take place on the weekend following the carnival - July 19/20 - and was given £5,000 by the council.

The event is jointly-organised by the St Ives Town Initiative and the town's Rowing Club and features dragon boat racing and the annual regatta.

Also on Wednesday evening, councillors agreed to prepare a formal response to the National Air Traffic Service proposals to move a holding pattern for Luton-bound planes near the St Ives area.

Meanwhile, St Ives town clerk Alison Melnyczuk has completed her first year in the post.

She told The Hunts Post: "The bottom line is that I am enjoying the job - St Ives is a fantastic place to work.