Stourbridge park fun fair plan sparks 'Charity Commission concern'
A fun fair is to be held in a Stourbridge park despite concerns it could see Dudley Council and trustees reported to the Charity Commission for breach of a deed of gift governing activities that can take place.
The Harry Jones Company’s application to put on a family fun fair event in Mary Stevens Park, Norton, from August 16 to 25, was approved by the Ernest Stevens Management Committee on July 9.
A report to the committee, which comprises mostly Stourbridge councillors acting as trustees, said the event would include children's cartoon characters, fairground rides including dodgems and waltzers, a bouncy castle, food and refreshments, and the operator plans to host a free session at the start of each day for children and young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI) to give families unable to get away on a summer holiday a chance to enjoy a positive experience in a safe and welcoming environment with reduced noise and strobe lighting turned off.
The fair, to be held on the grassy area of the park on the old cricket pitch area, would be secured with temporary fencing to restrict access and outside of the free sessions a £1 admission charge is proposed, with rides charged separately at £2.50 per ride.
The application said other council-owned parks and large open spaces are not available during the required time due to being used for grassroots football matches as it is the start of the football season.
It added that the proposed event “in part is against the deed of gift” that governs activities that can take place in the park, which was gifted to the people of Stourbridge by benefactor Ernest Stevens in memory of his wife Mary.
The deed of gift states the park land and buildings are to be used for the free use of the inhabitants of Stourbridge and district and the council can make a reasonable charge for adults for games and recreation but not for children.
