A spat over where the weekly St. George summertime street festival should be held is expected to dominate a public meeting in the East End tonight.

The Market Night event — which is held on Tuesday evenings during the cruise ship season — was moved to Water Street from King's Square in St. George for the first time this year, to the annoyance of some street vendors who claim it had a negative effect on sales and ruined the atmosphere.

Steve Hollis, spokesman for the festival committee, told The Royal Gazette the move was an "unbelievable" success and branded the vendors "a militant group" which does not have the best interests of the old capital at heart.

Sparks are likely to fly when the two sides meet this evening at a public meeting in the Town Hall in St. George at 6.30 p.m.

Mr. Hollis said: "It's going to be interesting to see what sort of lynch mob walks in there.

"Certainly the best interests of the town have to be taken into account or why should the town spend money on it?"

Artist Diana Higginbotham, one of the disgruntled vendors, claimed the tourist event worked far better in the square and attracted more locals.

"There was a DJ and it was really entertaining and like a party atmosphere," she said.

"Locals came along and were hanging around and dancing.

"Then all of a sudden this new committee got in charge and they have this vision that it should go down Water Street.

"The vendors thought that it was a flop but I think locals also thought it was a flop. There is no centre for the party. We want to get back on the square for next year."

She added many vendors dropped out of the festival, which is sponsored by the Corporation of St. George and the Department of Tourism, because it wasn't worth their while taking part. "We have all written letters and complained about it and they never replied. It really is crazy."

Ms Higginbotham is asking members of the public opposed to the change to write to backtothesquare[AT]northrock.bm.

Mr. Hollis said the move to Water Street had encouraged many shops to stay open later and was aimed at revitalising the whole town.

"We thought it was a very successful event," he said. "A few of the vendors didn't like it because it wasn't the same old, same old. One of the things is that the storekeepers have a larger vested interest in the town and I think we need to include them and help them. The vendors, for the most part, are from outside."

He added: "I understand the vendors want to do it back on the square with their DJ but that doesn't do the town any good."

A Government spokeswoman said the Department of Tourism "supported and encouraged initiatives that foster positive visitor and resident interaction" but could not comment further.

• Where do you think the festival should be held? Write to the editor at the usual address or email news[AT]royalgazette.bm.