Parks trustees have blocked plans for a funfair to return to Keswick this summer.
Cumbria-based Taylors Funfair had requested permission to bring its rides and mobile amusements to Fitz Park after lockdown 2021 is lifted.
It followed a successful three-week run in the park last summer by north east-based Turners Funfair, which drew large crowds.
Trustees initially voted 6-4 at their Zoom meeting last week in favour in principle of considering a return, despite a range of concerns being voiced.
However, the Keswick Reminder has learnt that the vote was later overturned when the issue was discussed in more detail in private at the same meeting.
The result is that no funfairs will be coming to Keswick this year, although trustees have left the door open for a possible return in 2022.
When the issue had been debated in public earlier at the meeting, some trustees said Keswick would not need extra attractions like a funfair to lure more visitors because it was sure to be busy this summer post-lockdown.
Councillor Alexandra Boardman – a “no” voter with councillors Alan Dunn, Sally Lansbury and Adam Paxon – said the overwhelming majority of feedback from last summer’s funfair had been negative.
“Pester power” was also a factor as parents who take their children to the park and its playground without having to spend any money would come under pressure to fork out on rides and have-a-go stalls.
Coun Paul Titley said he had heard the same arguments against the funfair before it came last summer.
“I got quite an ear-bashing before and all I heard afterwards was ‘well done. It was a nice change. We needed cheering up’.”
He conceded that three weeks was too long and that it should be for a fortnight maximum.
The parks trust is a charity which has seen its income fall steeply during the last year, particularly from games usage and its Crosthwaite Road car park, and it will miss out on bonus revenue from hire charges to the funfair, which totalled £2,250 last year.
But Coun Paxon, the trust chairman, said it had to strike a balance.
