Silcocks Fair is back on in Fleetwood for fun-filled weekend as new site is confirmed

The fair is now back on after it was initially cancelled by Wyre Council who had refused Silcocks permission to use its usual site at the Sunken car park on the seafront.

Silcocks had planned to open the fairground gates yesterday (Wednesday, August 4), with the event running until Sunday (August 8), but they were left in limbo with no place to go after they were denied use of the council-owned car park.

Wyre Council said the proposed site for the fairground is being used by the NHS for its warfarin clinic and said it was unable to accommodate the visiting rides and amusements.

But the Council says it has been in talks with Silcocks over the past few days and has managed to sort alternative arrangements for the travelling fair.

It has confirmed that the event will now take place from Friday (August 6) to Sunday (August 8) on the overspill car park at Fleetwood Leisure Centre.

A spokesman for Wyre Council said: "The initial application for the event was refused as the site is currently being used for by our NHS colleagues for the warfarin clinic.

"However, we have been working with the event organiser and a new site has been agreed for this weekend."

Local councillor Colette Fairbanks said she helped secure the alternative site for Silcocks and pushed the Council to act fast, helping to save the event from being cancelled altogether.

She said: "Wyre Borough Council refused Silcocks their yearly permit for the sunken car park, but didn't offer any alternative.

"I got involved and pushed WBC into offering Silcocks an alternative site. The sunken car park cannot be used as there is a static Covid blood unit currently on there.

"I met both WBC and Mr Silcock at 3pm yesterday (Wednesday, August 4) at the alternative site on offer, the overspill car park at Fleetwood Leisure Centre.

"As it was such short notice, Mr Silcock accepted the offer as the rides he was originally intending to bring to Fleetwood have now been booked elsewhere so the overspill car park is sufficient for what he has available.

"We have to remember that we have been in unprecedented times for a while now and Covid is still a priority to keep people safe.

"However, I do believe that WBC could have offered an alternative site when originally refusing Mr Silcocks' permit and without my input, we wouldn't be getting anything."

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