ORGANISERS of Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival have been accused of bullying and misleading local traders.

Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership Ltd was criticised for increasing stall rents at this year’s Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival by up to 150%.

Board members have also been accused of misleading fellow members and the public over its reasons for increasing stall rents for this year’s festival.

In a letter to members, sent in November, HTCPL board members Cathy Burger and Julia Lilof claimed: “HTCPL is no longer funded by the council.”

And in January Ms Burger told the Examiner: “Up to last year we were part of Kirklees Council and they picked up many of the costs.”

But The Examiner can reveal, using data obtained under Freedom of Information, that Kirklees Council “has never given financial support to the core costs of HTCPL”.

Kirklees Council has however provided grants of £10,000 to £11,000 for the festival each year, including this year’s festival which took place last weekend.

Paul and Vicki Wood, who own The Keys restaurant, Kirkgate, say they have been ‘bullied’ out of the Partnership for informing the media of the rent rises.

Despite paying their membership fees, Paul and Vicki were expelled in their absence by the HTCPL board last month.

And Mr and Mrs Wood said their staff were harassed and threatened by festival staff and Kirklees officials for handing out flyers in St George’s Square during the festival last weekend – despite having a licence to distribute them in the town centre.

Mrs Wood said: “We’ve been bullied because we went to the press about the rise in fees and the opaqueness of the HTCPL.”

Jinny Lalli, who owns Bows Boutique, Byram Arcade, and also has a flyer licence, says his employees were also sent packing by festival staff for distributing promotional material in St George’s Square during the festival.

Mr Lalli said: “I was really annoyed. We weren’t going to nick their customers.

“I’ve had their flyers in my shop. It seems rather mixed up and unfair.”

A spokesperson for HTCPL said: “The board has taken legal advice on this matter and refuse to be drawn into any further public discussion on accusations made by Mr Wood and are not prepared to enter into ‘trial by media’. However, we are prepared and will deal with Mr Woods (sic) in accordance with the Rules of HTCPL and its Memorandum and Articles of Association. If Mr Woods (sic) decides that he is still dissatisfied then we suggest he takes legal advice on the matter.

“After a record-breaking Food and Drink Festival with over 70 stalls and nothing but praise from participating businesses, the board considers this performance speaks for itself.”