The decision to cancel the Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival in Aberaeron next year was down to safety reasons rather than parking or congestion problems, according to a local councillor.

The Cambrian News revealed last week how festival organisers cancelled the event as it had become a victim of its own success.

No date has been given for when or if it would be revived, but organisers have said they are hoping to “take a break and came back stronger”.

While hugely supportive of the event, Aberaeron Town Council confirmed that people living near its harbourside location – particularly residents of nearby Glan y Môr – had experienced ‘total traffic chaos’.

County councillor Elizabeth Evans said this week that such issues were ‘beyond the control’ of organisers.

“The real issue is about being able to sustain such a high-quality hugely popular food event safely,” she told the Cambrian News.

“The decision not to proceed with the 2020 festival was a decision taken by a dedicated and hard-working organising committee, all of whom are volunteers,” she added.

“It has understandably come as a shock and disappointment to many and, of course, it’s a matter of regret that we won’t be able to enjoy the festival in 2020, yet we must respect the decision of the committee."

The festival has been held in Aberaeron for more than 20 years, but organisers insist health and safety issues were the priority, and the challenges of staging the event have risen considerably in recent years.

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now