A SHORTAGE of volunteers, rising insurance costs and increasingly restrictive health and safety regulations are threatening the area's community events.

Some organisers also fear a knock-on effect of a £600,000 compensation payout to a bandsman who was paralysed after falling off a float at the Lord Mayor's Parade in York.

Long established Otley Victorian Fayre struggles every year to come up with volunteers to run it, while the town's radio station, Wharfedale FM, is run mostly by people from outside Otley.

Those events with enough people, such as Ilkley Carnival and Otley Carnival, do suffer from increasingly tough health and safety regulations and higher insurance premiums.

Otley Show, despite being one of the oldest in the country, battles every year to get businesses to take out advertising in its programme and can even struggle to get shops to display posters. Hard hit traders are reluctant to advertise the event because they say people go to the event - but not to the shops in the town.

Wharfedale FM chairman Nigel Francis would like to see the radio station, which has just finished its second two-week stint, grow and become an all year round fixture in the town.

When it was not actually on air, the station could visit schools and organisations and build up support. But at the moment the majority of presenters, and backroom people, are from outside the town.

"The presenters we have are really good, but they're not from Otley and seeing as we're an Otley community radio station, people want to hear local people talking about local things." He cannot understand why more people don't want to become involved. "There is a real apathy in the town. It's the same with the Victorian Fayre, people just don't want to give up any of their time."

In Pool-in-Wharfedale moves are being made to set up a single community group able to share insurance premiums. It is a good idea, but one that groups have been reluctant to take up.

Bernard Mitchinson, of Pool 2020, says insurance for his group, which carries out environmental improvements in the village, has risen by around 30 per cent over the last three years.

Because insurance has to be taken out for the smallest of tasks, such as the planting of bulbs, it is cheaper to employ outside contractors.

Otley Victorian Fayre struggles every year to find people willing to sit in on a few meetings and help organise the event. Money is not such a problem, but finding people with enough time to sell advertising space in the programme and to do the ground work is a constant problem.

The day itself - run just before Christmas - can attract thousands of people with some traders day's trading being amongst the best of the year. But finding people to help run it is a nightmare for the diminishing few committee members. This year, the fayre is once again in danger of not being held. The four remaining committee members are well aware they are once again shouting 'Wolf' and that most in the town believe the fayre has always gone ahead - no matter how many scaremongers claim otherwise - and the same will be true this year. But stan- in secretary Mike Gittins says the situation has never been as bad as this year.

"People need to realise there is a very real danger the fayre will not go ahead this year. We haven't got enough people and the few people there are just can't do all the work. But we're up against the attitude that we say this every year and it always goes ahead," said Mr Gittins.

The fayre has the support of the town council and the town partnership, but it is actual bodies that it needs. Trevor Wallis, landlord of The Bowling Green and a long-term committee member, adds: "I can't do a great deal, because I'm working when the actual event is on. We've the same people on the committee who've been on it for years and we desperately need new blood."

Meanwhile, both Otley and Ilkley carnivals - although suffering from increasingly high insurance costs and more health and safety restrictions - have healthy committees and the enthusiastic support of their respective towns.

Ilkley Carnival, probably the biggest annual event in Wharfedale, although facing rising insurance costs and increasingly restrictive health and safety regulations, does not struggle to find people willing to help out on the committee.

Andrew Munro, committee member, said: "I'm pleased to say we've got a very enthusiastic committee. From March its like a part-time or even a full-time job and we could always do with two or three more people to spread the load, but we do all right."

Insurance cover for the carnival runs into more than a thousand pounds and to limit costs, those entering floats are now asked to take out their own insurance.

Mr Munro said: "Our insurance premium has gone up and it is likely it will go up again. It is very expensive, but we have made some provision for the expense as we go along and are able to pay for it at the moment.

"We have to make sure all the floats are properly insured for the occupants and they have to do that themselves, but people are prepared and happy to do it."

Over the years, the committee has had to fit in with new regulations - such as the replacement of arena barriers from rope and straw bails to more sturdy metal bars. It now fits banners on to the barriers for which it aims to get sponsored by businesses.

Otley Carnival also has a strong committee - but every year faces higher insurance costs and tougher safety restrictions.

Bryan Dexter, carnival committee member, says organisers had to prepare a risk assessment for the first time this year.

"We have to point out to lorry drivers that someone might run out across their route, things like that. The police advised us they would not be able to give their support without a risk assessment."

Public liability insurance has to be taken out but every year it gets higher and the number of insurance companies able to offer cover gets smaller.

The committee even has to be covered in case of an accident similar to what happened in York two years ago.

In York, the Lord Mayor's Parade may never be held again after insurers were forced to pay £600,000 to a bandsman who was paralysed after falling off a float at the 1999 event.

Charges against the band were dropped, although it had to pay out £50,000 in legal costs, and it was insurers for the driver of the wagon who paid out. The charitable group that ran the event has now pulled out of organising it again and York Council has said it needs safety reassurances before getting involved in any future carnival.

Mr Dexter said: "Insurance is increasingly becoming a knotty problem. Public liability insurance is becoming more and more expensive, but we've got to have it because if there is an accident, people will sue. It is frightening because people will sue for the slightest thing."

Otley Parish Church Scouts and Guides face a massive increase next year in their public liability insurance. Although groups which use its Burras Lane headquarters have their own insurance, the group is responsible for the building and faces a rise from £198 to £1,100.

What most organisers fear is if events do go under, there is little prospect of them ever returning.

Otley's river festival sank without trace because of rising costs and not enough support - although at its peak crowds flocked to Wharfemeadows Park to watch people fall into the river. The event was held for the last time in 1996, with organisers frustrated by a lack of interest.

John Morgan, who used to be responsible for safety at the event, said it was not just a lack of support that killed it off. "It is inconceivable that the event could happen now. The cost of putting it on with the insurance would be just too high and everyone would have to wear a lifejacket."

Coun Francis, of Wharfedale FM, said: "The sad thing is if these events go, they'll never come back and only then will people start missing them."