Fun fair fury after council plough ahead with 'inappropriate' event

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Fun fair fury after council plough ahead with 'inappropriate' event

Postby dutchman » Wed Mar 27, 2019 7:00 pm

Residents have criticised the council for signing off an “inappropriate” four-day fun fair

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The council has signed off an “inappropriate” four-day fun fair at a Coventry park without consulting residents, it has been claimed.

Ward councillor John McNicholas said the council had previously met with residents over holding a ‘commercialisation project’ at Stoke Green park.

But exactly what the project would be was never made apparent, he said, until residents found out the authority had already ploughed ahead with a deal for a fun fair.

He said such an attraction is not suitable for the park due to a lack of parking, poor access and the amount of noise pollution it will cause.

He added: “It is not a clever idea. This is simply the department saying how will we make some money and then talking to people after doing it.

“A fun fair is way off the mark and totally inappropriate in terms of size.”

Corrine Spencer, chairman of Gosford Park Residents Association, added: “It is not a matter of not in our backyard.

“We just do not think a fun fair is appropriate in this park. It is going to be on for four days – it is too much, it is the noise, the litter.”

Another resident, Sue Chilvers, said: “I was really shocked when I found out as I thought ‘has there been a consultation and we have missed out?’

“I could not believe a decision could be made like that without consulting local residents.”

The council has agreed for the popular Tommy Wilson’s Funfairs to hold the event from Thursday, June 27, until Sunday, June 30.

A council spokesman said they will enforce “strict operating guidelines” meaning it will operate between noon and 9pm on the weekdays, noon – 10pm Saturday and noon – 7pm on Sunday.

But residents, who have handed over a 70-person petition against the event, also fear its size could lead to damage to a number of community-led projects which they have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for, such as the Tick-Tock Play Area and the Green Man.

Resident Ann Wilson said: “We have worked our socks off to raise money but why should we do it when the council seem determined to go ahead.”

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Re: Fun fair fury after council plough ahead with 'inappropriate' event

Postby rebbonk » Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:05 pm

Smells a little bit. :evil:
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Re: Fun fair fury after council plough ahead with 'inappropriate' event

Postby dutchman » Wed Apr 24, 2019 11:21 pm

'Appalling' funfair plan for Coventry park in conservation area prompts petition

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RESIDENTS in a Coventry have launched a petition against city council plans to stage a funfair which they say will do lasting damage to a park near their homes.

They say there has been no consultation on the plan and that the ‘inappropriate’ funfair could wreck Stoke Green Park, off Binley Road – which is also a conservation area.

People living nearby fear noise, litter and parking problems in addition to damage, and they have raised a petition asking the council to think again.

They have the backing of local councillors John McNicholas and Catherine Miks, who say they weren’t told of the funfair plan before it was announced by officers.

At a public meeting (Wednesday, April 17), Coun McNicholas told residents: “Councillors weren’t aware of it, you weren’t aware of it. We were given a fait accompli.”

The funfair is planned to run from June 27 to 30, from 5pm to 9pm on the Thursday and Friday; 1pm, to 9pm on the Saturday; and 1pm to 7.30 on the Sunday.

The council says it has to use the city’s parks to make money to make up for government cutbacks.

But Gosford Park Residents’ Association and the Stoke Park Residents’ Group which are opposing the plans, say they would be willing to work with the council on ways of raising money with events that would be more appropriate to the park’s size and location.

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Re: Fun fair fury after council plough ahead with 'inappropriate' event

Postby dutchman » Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:46 pm

Funfair in protected Coventry park set for go-ahead - despite protests

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PLANS for a funfair on a protected Coventry park have been recommended for council approval despite more than 180 residents signing petitions in protest.

A Coventry City Council meeting to consider a petition drawn up by people living near Stoke Green Park, off Binley Road, is to be held on Tuesday, June 18.

Council officers are recommending the go-ahead despite residents’ fears over noise, litter, parking and damage to the well-used park – which is situated in a conservation area.

Deputy council leader Abdul Khan – who as we reported recently visited residents to hear their arguments – will cast the final decision on the controversial funfair plans.

More than 70 residents have signed the paper petition while an online petition on the council’s website has been signed by 63 people only hours after going live.

A further 50 plus have signed a petition on Change.org demanding the council ‘rethink’ the plans.

But a report from the council’s head of streetpride and greenspace, Graham Hood, says the funfair should go ahead anyway.

It states: “The option not to allow the funfair to be held at Stoke Green Park has been considered however this has been rejected.

“The parks budget was reduced by £1million from 2016 and it is important that the service explores opportunities to generate and increase income.

“It is considered that Stoke Green Park is an appropriate location to hold a suitably sized funfair as offered by Tommy Wilson’s Funfairs and the option to allow the event to go ahead is recommended.”

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Re: Fun fair fury after council plough ahead with 'inappropriate' event

Postby rebbonk » Tue Jun 11, 2019 11:32 am

The council don't give a damn about those affected!

There is more to this than is presently apparent, it has a very nasty whiff.
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Re: Fun fair fury after council plough ahead with 'inappropriate' event

Postby dutchman » Tue Jun 18, 2019 8:24 pm

Fiery clash as objectors call fun fair approval a "disgrace"

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A councillor was embroiled in a fiery clash with campaigners after an “inappropriate” funfair was given the go-ahead by Coventry City Council - despite more than 400 people opposing it.

Cabinet member for policing and equalities Cllr Abdul Khan agreed for Tommy Wilson’s funfairs to hold an event Stoke Green park at a meeting on Tuesday, June 18.

But frustration spilled out into the council corridors as Cllr Pervez Akhtar clashed with residents following a decision which campaigners branded as a “disgrace”.

Supporting the funfair, Cllr Akhtar said: “Parks are there for everybody.

“They are not private property, they are there for people and children to enjoy.”

Speaking after the meeting, the chairperson of Gosford Park Residents Association Corrine Spencer, who had told the council she would resign if the funfair went ahead, said: “I think they had already made up their mind before they heard our cases.

“They did not address the finance issue and just said why are we depriving children.”

Ward councillor John McNicholas added: “They did not listen to the points being made.

“All that good work that has been developed over the last 10 years has been damaged at a stroke due to short-term blindness.”

The event will run from June 27 to 30, 5pm-9.30pm on weekdays, 1pm-9.30pm Saturday and 1pm-7pm Sunday, but the funfair will arrive on June 24 for set-up and have until July 1 to leave.

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Re: Fun fair fury after council plough ahead with 'inappropriate' event

Postby rebbonk » Tue Jun 18, 2019 8:28 pm

“I think they had already made up their mind before they heard our cases.


Likely behind closed doors where no record exists!
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Re: Fun fair fury after council plough ahead with 'inappropriate' event

Postby dutchman » Wed Jun 26, 2019 1:26 am

Locks glued together to block funfair in protected Coventry park

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PROTESTERS glued locks together to block entry to workers setting up a controversial funfair in a protected Coventry park.

The funfair at Stoke Green Park, off Binley Road, was approved at a special Coventry City Council meeting last week that was called to consider petitions signed by nearly 400 people in opposition.

A protest was mobilised on social media, and yesterday (June 24) about 20 people turned out to vent their frustration as rides and caravans took over the small park in a conservation area.

Protesters claimed that cumbersome lorries and caravans had already ’caused damage’ and workers had been aggressive.

Assurances from Tommy Wilson, of Tommy’s Fairs, appeared to have allayed fears enough for the Gosford Park Residents’ Association (GPRA) to rule out further protests.

But some residents remained intent on demonstrating.

Mr Wilson denied any damage had been caused and has criticised the behaviour of protesters.

Someone had glued locks together to prevent bollards being removed to allow the fair entry into the park.

Mr Wilson told us: “There isn’t any damage. If the council officers say there is then I will deal with it.

“But protesters superglued all the locks together so we couldn’t get in. We were given permission from the council to cut the locks.

“We had legal entry. But protesters still stood in the driveway blocking us.”

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