THE carnival may finally be over for the dedicated community-minded band of volunteers who have done their best to keep an old tradition 'a-float' in Abergavenny every summer.

Chris Evans, who re-introduced the carnival to the town in 1999 after a lapse of five years, and has fought valiantly to keep it going every since, says health and safety issues and insurance costs combined with the 'apathy' of town centre businesses and lack of support from local schools has made it 'untenable'.

"I'm very sad that it has come to this, but I simply can't see any way forward," he said.

"The carnival procession last July only had a handful of floats and walking entries and the fact we were forced to change the route of the parade to avoid the cost of signage on the A40 trunk road compounded the problem."

The Mayor of Abergavenny Councillor Martin Hickman, however, says the town council are keen to keep the carnival going and have approached the Round Table for help in organising this year's event.

"At the moment I would say the chances of it going ahead are fifty fifty," he said. "We'd like to keep it up and running even if, given the timescale, it has to be just something basic this year. The impression we've got is that the younger members of Round Table would like to give it a go.

"We'd need them to find the entertainers, take care of the marshalling and so on."

He added, "I think it's very important to get local schools involved in the carnival procession again.

"It might be, though, that the days of having carnival floats have come to an end due to the high cost of the insurance required for the lorries."

The town council contributed around £2,000 towards the carnival costs last year and have money set aside to cover some of the expenses for this year too - for competition prizes and the payment of entertainers for example.

"As mayor I was involved in the parade last year and there were certainly plenty of people lining the route. But, after the procession finished at the Brewery Yard, not many people went across to Bailey Park for the entertainment, even though it was free - and first class."

He acknowledged that Chris Evans had given the event 100 per cent over the years and said he understood his disappointment.

The town carnival was first staged in Abergavenny in the 1920s. Traditionally the parade formed up in Mill Street and the floats followed a route through the main street.

Chris blames a combination of circumstances for the current situation.

"Re-routing the parade last year certainly didn't help but there was no alternative given the cost of bilingual signage for diversions and road closures and for signs publicising the event - and it would have been even more this year.

"At one time all the local schools got involved but last year the only one was Llantilio Pertholey.

"Local businesses don't get involved nowadays either because of health and safety regulations and the cost of insurance.

"We do poster drops around town but even the smaller shops can't be bothered to put them up for us - although they fall over backwards to promote the bigger events!

"It's gradually been losing support and once the schools lost interest that was it.

"I'm very sad it has had to come to this. A carnival brings people into the town and also brings the community together. In places like Monmouth, Newport and Ross-on-Wye it's a big event where everyone gets involved."

He added, "I'd like to thank all the volunteers who have been helping to run the carnival with me for the past 15 years. They've put in so many hours of their time."

It remains to be seen now whether the town council and the Round Table, who among other things organise the annual fireworks display in Belgrave Park, will join forces to save this year's carnival at the eleventh hour.

Matt Lane, vice chairman of Abergavenny and District Round Table said on Tuesday, "Abergavenny Town Council contacted us last week and we will be holding a meeting to discuss the situation with the carnival. Until then I'm unable to comment further."