LIVERPOOL’S Summer Pops Festival could be on again days after being axed by the city’s cash-strapped council.
This year’s music event was scrapped after it emerged taxpayers faced up to £40,000 a day in subsidies and clear-up costs.
But town hall sources today claimed the three companies bidding to run the Pops now believed they could run it without a subsidy, or with a greatly reduced one.
A radio station is also understood to have approached the council to run a one or two-day music event in July.
CMP, which has run the Pops at the docks for six years, is now proposing an identical event at a lower-cost venue.
Its previous bid asked for a subsidy of up to £500,000 plus a £100,000 management fee from the council to stage a 16-night festival.
It was rejected despite receiving the highest rating from council officials, 83.6% compared with Cream’s 78%.
Cream did not suggest capping the council’s contribution.
Cream is understood to be offering to stage the event “anywhere where the city could allow it” - possibly Sefton Park, Otterspool or Croxteth Park.
Third bidder LargePortion asked for up to £750,000 to run a 22-night and six-day event of music, comedy and sport.
The council had offered a maximum subsidy of £250,000. When it emerged costs could not be capped the plug was pulled, although the event is due to return in 2008.
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