Request to extend Stamford Mid-Lent Fair turned down by South Kesteven District Council

A request to extend the Mid-Lent Fairs in Grantham and Stamford has been turned down by South Kesteven District Council following consultation with residents and businesses.

That means the 2019 fairs will run over the same format as previous years and will be from Monday, April 1, to Saturday, April 6, in Stamford and Sunday, April 7, to Wednesday, April 10, in Grantham.

The Showmen’s Guild had asked for next year’s Stamford fair to run from April 1 to 7 and the Grantham fair to open from April 10 to 14.

The results of a four-week public consultation carried out by the council was instrumental in the decision not to support an extension to the fairs. Lincolnshire County Council's highways also objected to the increase in the duration of road closures.

SKDC’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy Nick Robins, said: “The majority of respondents did not support the proposal to extend the Mid-Lent Fairs. The main reasons were the potential impact on trade – specifically accessibility and deliveries – noise and traffic congestion.”

Coun Robins said talks had taken place with the Showmen’s Guild about the consultation findings.

Lincolnshire County Council objected to the extension of the fairs in both towns on highways grounds.

It said: “When reaching this conclusion we took into account the views of the locally elected member/Executive Councillor for Highways, to ascertain if there is likely to be local assent to the proposals.

“It was their opinion that on a local level there would be no support for extending the length of the Charter Fairs due to the additional disruption it would cause to the highway network and to members of the travelling public."

In Stamford there were 223 responses, with 119 (53.4 per cent) against extending the fair and 90 (40.3 per cent) in favour. Five businesses were in favour and 22 objected.

Stamford Police said: “From a crime and disorder perspective, there is very little anti-social behaviour or crime that takes place throughout the fair period currently and there is no police officer presence assigned for it.”

Coun Robins said: “Just over half of respondents, along with the county council, did not support the proposal to extend the Mid-Lent Fair in Stamford.

“The main reasons were because of the impact it would have on parking, the disruption it causes in the town and the effect it has on trade.”