Not everyone is happy about Maidstone Mela’s move to the town centre, despite councillors hailing the decision at the time.

The Maidstone Lions have long supported the annual festival which celebrates cultural diversity, but this year they will not be going.

The Mela, which was first staged in 2002, is moving from Mote Park to a range of town centre venues, including Jubilee Square, a move Malcolm Luxton, Lions vice-president said had caused dismay among members.

He said: “As an organisation which has attended for many years we would like to register our dismay at the news that this year it will be scattered around the town instead of its usual place in Mote Park.

“We are at a loss to understand the advantages of this decision as it is obvious it will bring about yet more traffic chaos to the town, a reduction in stall holders like us and a significant increase in the need for policing.”

The Rotary Club of Maidstone, which volunteers with car parking at the festival, will also be absent. Pat Thomas, club secretary said: “The Mela has always been a big event that brought everyone together. Putting everyone around the town means it just won’t be the same.”

The decision to move the Mela was made earlier this year.

A council spokesman said: “The decision to change the location and format of the Mela was taken at an operational level with support from the chair of the advisory committee.

“This year’s multicultural event will be held in the town centre on Sunday, September 11, with further details to be released in the coming months.”

Cllr Gordon Newton (Ind) chairman of the council’s heritage, culture and leisure committee, said there will be a consultation at this year’s Mela to gauge public opinion.

He said: “The groups taking part in the Mela are quite supportive. Change is always difficult for some people. If it doesn’t work it will just go back to Mote Park.”

Gurvinder Sandher, chief executive officer at the Kent Equality Cohesion Council, has been involved with the Mela since its inception.

He said: “I believe strongly it is a great community event and it needs to continue in Mote Park long term.

“I understand from a Maidstone council perspective it is to ensure the Mela delivers value for money in a time of ever-increasing budget cuts and hope local residents will let them know what they feel about it.

“The short-term option is to have something in the town centre and I am committed to working with all of our community partners to ensure we use this year to get as much feedback as possible so we can take the Mela back to Mote Park where it belongs.”