Campaigners in new fight to stop funfair in the Meadows

Published on Tuesday 7 July 2009 10:09

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to limit the number of large events held in the Meadows are preparing for another battle to stop a funfair setting up in the park for almost three weeks.

The protesters are furious that another major event could be given the go-ahead by councillors, despite a ruling in May that no more new events will be scheduled until they agree a new management plan for the park, including an annual limit on future events.

The funfair application will go before the council's licensing committee next week and campaigners are pleading with councillors to listen to their concerns.

This latest application comes just weeks after the green light was given to the Moscow State Circus to take place in the Meadows this summer.

The main arguments being put forward by campaign group Friends of the Meadows against the funfair are that prolonged events damage the grass and prevent local residents from using large areas of the park.

There are also fears that the funfair would set up beside the cricket pavilion, which could lead to games being cancelled.

Chris Wigglesworth, convener of Friends of the Meadows, said that when you take into account setting up and dismantling times, the funfair will be in the meadows for about three weeks.

He said: "This new application has just come in and as far as we can tell they want to put it beside the cricket pavilion.

"People are really annoyed about this, having campaigned to get long events removed. Having ruined one area they are now going to put this in another area and ruin that too.

"Long events damage the grass and we can prove that.

"The main annoyance is that there's going to be a real shortage of places for people to relax during the busiest time of the year.

"If the weather is anything like last year, it will turn into a mud bath. We feel we have won the argument it's just a case of whether the councillors listen to what people want."

The Friends of the Meadows group campaigned tirelessly to prevent the Moscow State Circus from being granted permission to operate from the Meadows from 13-31 August.

A vote on the application at last month's licensing sub-committee meeting resulted in a 4/4 split decision, with convener Colin Keir casting the deciding vote in favour of the event taking place in the Meadows.

Paul Godzik, Labour councillor for the Meadows and Morningside ward, said: "Promises have been made to the community and those promises don't seem to have been carried through.

"Hopefully the process will be in place for next summer and then the community can have their say about events on the Meadows."

A council spokeswoman said this event was already planned before the ruling was made on banning new events.

She added: "This application will be considered at the licensing sub-committee next week."