Sir – There has been a lot of speculation about the Cowley Road Carnival which is a great fun event for residents and tourists.

We want to see more of it but the management needs to take on board what has been said.

Should it revert to Cowley Road? Yes, that is its true home, a street party but with a caveat. The traders of Cowley Road should be persuaded to contribute significantly to the management of the event. They are the most aggrieved that the carnival was moved this year, being very astute they must have worked out the cost of this change.

The carnival committee has a very strong bargaining chip which it must use to ensure that traders pay their fair share. After all, it will only be a fraction of their takings. The current debate over the Cowley Road Carnival is healthy, highlighting issues to be addressed.

Is the city getting the best value for its money, what should the council policy be with regards to subsidies and how is the carnival committee shaping the debate? A case could be made for rationalisation of the management structure, possibly with a project manager supervising the whole event. Organisers should come up with revenue streams such as support by traders and/or fees from users of services, allowing funding organisations to switch funds to other events — Oxford has room for more events to enhance its strong brand.

The carnival committee, made up of dedicated residents, has done a very good job in general but it needs to do more in terms of media management, including regular press releases and setting the agenda.

Boima Rogers, Oxford