Part of the grounds of Wolverhampton’s West Park could be transformed by a funfair lasting 10 days.
The fair would be set up over the last two weekends of August, following on from a series of other attractions at the site.
There have been concerns that the event would cause a nuisance for people living near the park. But Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett, head of Wolverhampton City Council’s planning committee, said the attraction would only take up a small area of the park and be aimed at youngsters.
The plan will be discussed by the council on Wednesday and will be staged next month if approved.
Councillor Gwinnett said: “Initially the idea was for a month-long event which I agree is far too long, but this is a much smaller event.
“Not all of the park would be taken over and there would be strict regulations in place to make sure it will not be a nuisance for anybody living nearby.
“It is only in a small section of West Park. There will be security guards and only one entrance would be used.”
But some residents have raised concerns. Gurdeep Kang, aged 36, of Park Road West, said: “Loads of people around here use the park and are happy with it as it is.
“I don’t think they’d like all the traffic from an event. I think it’s a decent idea but it has to be managed well.”
Brian Matthews, 47, of Park Road East, said: “I don’t know how big the event can be because there is only so much parking around here.”
The park is used as the setting for a number of fundraising events, including the City Show, transport rally, Wolverhampton Marathon and the Race for Life.
But fears have been raised that the fair would cause chaos for nearby residents.
Councillor Manohar Minhas, a representative of Park ward, said: “I have severe concerns that this will disturb local residents who already have to put up with a lot from existing fair commitments.
“I am concerned that local people have not been consulted about an event of this scale and I will be raising the issue at the full council meeting.”
4 Comments
Remember the good old days when Wolverhampton had a dedicated site for visiting fairs and circuses? They demolished our excellent historic markets and moved them to tuppenny halfpenny concrete slabs on the fair ground… Now the market is on its last legs perhaps it could be moved back to its original site, using the ground floor of the bunker (oops civic centre) as the indoor market. The current site could be opened up as a pubic square where, again, visting fairs and circuses can locate.
An inexpensive solution I suggest.
The West Park aleady stages four funfairs during the year (Easter, June for the Steam Fair, July for the City Show and November’s Bonifre event), and has in the past held a funfair over the Bank Holiday period.
But I agree with PJW, although cities around the UK hold successful fairs within the city centres (i.e. Nottingham, Stratford and Loughborough).
It would be nice to see a high quality city centre fair with rides either in the Civic Centre Sq or Market Sq and maybe some attractions along Dudley Street.
I know it may cause noise and disturbance but has any one thought that this fair maybe the only entertainment that some young children see and get over the summer holidays.
Money is really tight,not everyone can afford £500 plus for a holiday but im sure most parents will go with out to let their kids have an hour at the fair and struggle with the cost.
Dont be spoil sports,they wont be there long make a few kids smile.
They bought a house opposite a huge park, what did they really expect?