PLANS to hold part of a dance festival in Wanstead may be put on ice, after councillors failed to agree funding for the project.

A proposal was put forward to hold a Redbridge Dance Festival in March 2002. The initiative would be managed jointly by Redbridge Council's leisure services and dance agency Dance Link.

But ward councillors for Wanstead and Snaresbrook wanted to know why the area would have to fork out £3,000, when other area committees have so far refused to do so.

The event would include four performances at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford and a dance extravaganza on the Hermitage Estate.

Council officers hope to have the East London Dance company working with youngsters in the area and encouraging them to take part.

Although it would cost nothing to take part in the festival, the funds for hire of premises, supervision at the event on the day, publicity and artists fees would amount to £3,000.

So far no other committee has agreed to fund the event.

Cllr Sue Nolan said: We need more inclusive details about it. But what I'm most unhappy about is that we're expected to agree to take £3,000 out this area committee's budget to pay for it.

No-one else has agreed to issue funding because events in parts of Ilford are centrally funded.

Cllr Jeffrey Edelman said: We need more details than this if we're thinking of paying out £3,000. We should delay our decision until we're satisfied with the information we receive.

Officers say the project would be an ideal opportunity to involve young people in the area. They say that other area committees have postponed a decision, not dismissed the idea altogether.

Cllr Peter Goodey said: While it may be a good venture to think about, South Ilford, including the Kenneth More Theatre, has money pumped in from central funds. Other areas are deprived of this. Yet we're expected to fund this out of our own budget.

Councillors will look at the proposals again at the next area committee meeting in January 2002.

By.Laura Burkin