Bramley Carnival - which returned this year with a bang - could be killed off forever by inflated charges from the authorities, the organisers fear. Click here for full details.
However they have been told by Leeds City Council they must accept the charges, or apply for their own licence in the future.
The colourful West Leeds event returned this year after a decade in the wilderness - but now organisers have been hit wit
h additional bills of £1,700 which they say they knew nothing about.
The team say they were shocked to see an invoice from Leeds City Council for almost £800 for a simple inspection of the carnival stage.
Added to further "unexpected" charges for security railings as well as a bill from West Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the creeping costs for July's party in the park amount to a fifth above the event's total budget.
It is now feared that despite a highly successful return this year, the century-old event could become history.
Co-ordinator Terence Knapton, who spent 12 months organising the event, said: "These charges are killing our community events.
"We had no warnings whatsoever about being invoiced for the inspection and the amount is ridiculous.
"We do not agree to being taken for a ride by being charged for community events.
"This is killing Bramley Carnival and we are not prepared to allow this to happen.
"We are volunteers who decided to do something positive for the people of Bramley and surrounding areas but this is outrageous."
A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council insisted the Bramley Carnival team HAD been informed of the now controversial charges, but they were never disputed at the time.
She said the council had spent a great deal of time along with the police, ambulance service and other relevant agencies to help and support the carnival organisers stage the event.
"As with any large public event it is necessary for the whole site to be checked for its suitability and safety, and to have advice on temporary structures and other matters of health and safety," she said.
"We are very supportive of the Bramley Carnival and will continue to help the organizers and hope that it becomes an annual event to be enjoyed by the local community.
" In future they have two options: they can apply for their own licence for the event and take responsibility for the safety of those attending, or they can pay the costs incurred by us to meet the conditions of our licence."
Despite the council's comments, the Bramley team have been backed up by organisers of other community festivals, who say events for the community by the community should not be treated like businesses.
John Liversedge, an organiser of Kirkstall Festival, said hyped up charges were "undermining" many community festivals, and it is the community who ultimately suffers.
"Many of our community events have been running for years," he said.
"We do not do it for personal gain nor to make a profit, so why should we be treated like a commercial organisation?
"If we do not make a stand now and make it quite clear we are not prepared to pay these charges, many of us will not be here in the next year or two.
"It is amazing but if we decide to hold a demonstration and clog up the centre of Leeds the police will not charge us!"
