I WAS disappointed to read the AIR Festival is being scrapped (Advertiser, January 11).

I regularly attend open-air classical concerts at stately piles such as Ragley Hall and Stoneleigh where I take my chair, food and a bottle of wine and enjoy the glorious music in picturesque surroundings with a backdrop of a beautiful mansion, usually at a cost of around £22 per head.

When the AIR Festival was announced last summer, I was immediately both delighted and interested, particularly as it was within walking distance and no argument about who should drive.

Then it was announced the only name was Jools Holland - no offence but not one of my favourites - and then that it would be at what I would say was an excessive price of £25 per head.

Lovely though it is, I would not expect Arrow Valley Countryside Park to be as expensive as a stately venue.

So I decided it wasn't for us.

It is my personal opinion the organisers were far too greedy and had they made a more reasonable charge of £10-£15 per ticket, they would have sold out, as albeit Jools Holland, I would have seriously considered going for the whole enjoyable experience.

However, after the event, when I read the marshals had turned away people who had walked from home (many past my back fence) with chairs and alcohol, I was very glad I had decided to forego the experience.

My experience of open-air classical concerts is that although most people take alcoholic drinks (in large quantities) there is never any trouble as everyone is of the same mind, having paid not insubstantial amounts for a wonderful evening and thoroughly enjoy the whole event, departing happy and relaxed.

Perhaps it is not the festival that needs to be scrapped but the organisers.

Mrs V MAY

Greenlands