As an effected exhibitor I have just been advised by the electrical contractor for the event that no refund at all will be offered for pre paid power at the fair.

Apparently after consultation with the CLA, this is clearly profiteering on the misfortune of exhibitors.

When we book power it includes electricity consumed, as the show did not take place, NO exhibitor has used any, and therefore fuel for the generators too was saved, with not even a part refund this provides a greater profit for the contractor than if the show had gone ahead.

These people do not deserve to be in business, and make extra profit from this NON EVENT.

Steve J Rowe
Napier of London

steve rowe, didcot, UK

I am an avid fan of the CLA Game Fair, but realise that without traders and exhibitors at the Game Fair, attendance would be a fraction of attendance figures in the last 5 years, as a layman its seems morally wrong the attitude with regard refunds,of the CLA . Please don't rub salt into wounds that the traders have already suffered, if the number of traders falls significantly, I for one will not be attending the CLA Game Fair again, after all, I go to buy goods I can only generally buy at game fairs.

Michael Harlow, Derby, England

I am one of the many small exhibitors that was let down by the CLA cancelling the game fair.
Your article mentions that Adrian Gane said that refunding exhibitors stand fees would put the Game Fair at risk, financially, the CLA have put the small exhibitors businesses at risk.
No small businesses=no game fair, prehaps they should take that into consideration when reviewing their financial loss. They will have to claw back their loss from somewhere but why should it be at the exhibitors expense? We have already made losses through producing more stock than we will need for the year, travel expenses and revenue lost from the show, we do not need the additional loss from the pitch fee. A compromise is needed so that we, and the CLA , do not loose out. Why can´t we be offered an equivalent pitch space, at no extra cost, for next years Game Fair?

teresa, Alozaina, Spain,

As a trader, we can accept that neither us or the CLA can control the weather. However our experience in this matter is that other show organisers have been prepared, this year, to compensate traders properly where a show has been affected by rain, even where show has actually gone ahead. I was expecting the CLA to meet us half way, sadly this would appear not to be the case.

The Game Fair is one of the most expensive events that we attend anually, as a small farm business. The cancellation of the show is bad enough, but to lose most of the stand fees and all cost relating to electricity is a major financial loss for our small business to bear.

I do hope that the CLA and their suppliers do not act in an arrogant fashion on this issue, they need us traders to attend this show, as much as we need the CLA to organise the event. It is normally a successful show for us and it would be a shame if that relationship were broken.

Steve Holley
Napton Water Buffalo

Steve Holley, Napton, Warwickshire

I would have at least expected our booking to be carried over for next year! The cla could then mitigate their losses against the gate money and ensure that the traders support it in 2008...

Richard Popplewell, Hartley Wintney, Hants

It is inconeceivable that the game fair organisers could have costs of £800 to provide for a 3m x 3m bit of tentage or that a electricity supply for 3 days and 1 socket should cost £200.

Whilst I can accept a loss to some degree for the cancellation I am not prepared to accept that the charges for a pitch or for the work done are worthy of a meagre 20% discount on next years fair

Justin Maxwell Stuart, London, UK

My Company BHLR Ltd has paid £10,000 to the CLA for an event they did not run. And they have met us to say there is no refund. We are a small 2 man business and cannot absorb these sort of costs

R Rutherford, Brightio east sx,

I think it is absolutely outrageous we are being offered no refund. For someone like me the £1300 i paid for the stand is a lot of money to pay for 3 days trading at a show for the first time. It is morally wrong too. We paid for a stand and they didnt give us one. We should be paid back our money. And being the type of fair it is they should have insurance . I, like many in the retail business have suffered vary badly this year already and was taking a gamble doing a new show and had invested a lot of money in stock for it. To be offered a meagre 20% reduction on next years strand is insulting and totally mean. I am sure the CLA is a very wealthy organisation and they should bare their losses.......whats £100,000 to lose for insurance rather than the million they did lose, or supposedly lost.

Suzy Rowe, Edinburgh, Midlothian