Slough Mela called off as organisers say they are fighting 'a losing battle'

Spiralling costs have forced the event to be shelved with no immediate plans for its return.

Last year the mela attracted more than 8,000 people to Upton Court Park for a day of music, with headline acts including Tim Westwood and Jazzy B.

But organiser Ray Siddique told the Express: “We have no support for it. It is quite shocking to be honest but we are past the stage of being angry about the situation.

“It has been a real uphill struggle so we have just concluded it’s had its time and the local powers that be don’t really support it or want it. If anyone supported it they would put their money where their mouth is.”

Ray, who is also managing director of Asian Star FM, said it can no longer contend with rocketing council rates to hire out the park while policing costs for the event also continue to rise.  

He estimates the mela has made a loss of £15,000 the last two times it has been held.  

Despite exploring a number of options including staging the mela in a different borough and turning it into a charitable event, a decision has been made not to hold it again this year.

Ray added: “For us, as a small business we cannot sustain these costs and take that risk again.

“This year, with the costs being the same, we didn’t think there is any point going to the council saying 'can you reduce it?'

“The only thing that I will say publicly to them is they could have helped us financially and they didn’t.”

The music festival has endured a stuttering history since it was first held in 2000 and had returned last year after a one-year absence.  

A Slough Borough Council spokesman said: “It is a privately organised event.

“Obviously the council’s budget is low and we don’t want to use taxpayers' money to subsidise a private event.”