Cash crisis leaves Kenilworth carnival's future in doubt

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Warwick District Council have told the organisers of the carnival that they cannot use Abbey Fields for the 2024 funfair



A 100-year-old carnival's future has been thrown into doubt by a cash crisis and a ban on its funfair from its usual site.

Kenilworth Carnival raises lots of money for charity, but organisers are facing a £12,000 funding shortfall.

It also features a street procession with floats, walkers and marching bands.

"It's devastating news for Kenilworth town," said Anne Brough, speaking on BBC CWR.

"People look forward to it, seeing the children on the floats, the excitement they have... everything's doom and gloom sometimes; it lifts people's spirits."

Organisers are attempting to raise the missing funding so that the carnival can still go ahead.

Anne Brough said that they have received a small amount of money from the town council and that a few businesses have come forward to support them.

She said that they were "hopeful" that the event would still go ahead in June.

"The support of the local town has been brilliant."

Warwick District Council's events and green spaces teams have been assessing the impact of the fair.

“We fully understand the disappointment of both the carnival organisers and local residents," said councillor Ella Billiald.

She explained that with increasing numbers of visitors in recent years, combined with the effects of climate change, allowing the fair to go ahead could cause potential damage to trees in Abbey Fields.

"We would be in the situation of breaching our own guidelines for the management and care of Abbey Fields, which is an ancient monument that the Council has a duty to protect,” she added.

However, the council said that both the district and town councils were keen to work with the organisers to enable the carnival to take place this year, albeit with a revised programme.

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...combined with the effects of climate change" said councillor Ella Billiald.

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Lifeline for 100-year-old carnival facing closure

A 100-year-old carnival has been handed a lifeline after a new site was found to host it.

Kenilworth Carnival had been under threat after Warwick District Council raised concerns about its use of Abbey Fields.

But after talks with the carnival organisers and the funfair operators, an alternative location has been found.

Councillors will discuss the new site when they meet on 10 April.

The authority said it also needed to get approval from Historic England.

It had withdrawn permission to use the usual site after a review raised concerns about the effect increasing numbers of visitors and wetter summers were having on Abbey Fields and the trees there.

The carnival organisers have also been working to make up a funding shortfall, but said they were hopeful it could go ahead.

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a review raised concerns about the effect... wetter summers were having on Abbey Fields and the trees there

Were we not told many years ago that global warming would result in "hotter, drier summers" in the UK?

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Carnival gets green light for move to new site



A summer carnival under threat because of waterlogging and tree growth on its usual site has been given the green light to move.

The 100-year-old Kenilworth Carnival operated for many years in an area north of the Finham Brook, which is now deemed unsuitable due to tree growth.

Warwick District Council has now approved its relocation to Abbey fields and £8,000 of funding for works to enable the move.

Councillor Ella Billiald, portfolio holder for arts and economy, said: "It is an event which means so much to our community."

The move is subject to a consultation with Historic England because of a nearby monument, a potential hurdle pending a consent application.

The new location, in an area of Abbey Fields to the north of Forrest Road, would require gates to be widened and gravel laid to get fair vehicles in.

Green councillor James Kennedy, portfolio holder for climate change, recorded his thanks to officers "who moved very quickly to find a solution".

He said issues at the previous site were caused by climate change, with the area no longer "suitable due to the risk of flooding and damage to the trees".

Councillor Judy Falp said: "I think I first attended 68 years ago, at the age of one, and I have been quite a few times since, so I am pleased a solution has been found."

Organisers wrote on the carnival website, external they were "very pleased" the event would go ahead.

The event, which includes a procession and floats, takes place on 29 and 30 June.