Yarm Fair dodgems ‘finished’ by Stockton Council plans

Fairground operator John Murphy says his family has been coming to Yarm Fair for more than 130 years.

They run the dodgems, which plays an important part in the fair as it hosts the annual proclamation of an 800-year-old royal charter.

Now John, 40, says he fears the loss of his livelihood since Stockton Council’s announcement of new seating areas and planters on Yarm High Street.

He says some of the new street furniture appears to be on the dodgems’ position near the Black Bull pub.

Fairground operators say recent decsisions mean dodgems will no longer be a part of Yarm Fair (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

John said: “They officially come to open the fair with the dodgems and we have the church service as well.

“Yarm Fair’s one of the oldest events in the North East, probably the country. It’s six generations the Murphy family’s been attending for the Yarm Fair, we’ve been going about 135 years, it could be longer.

“From my great-great-great-grandfather we’ve come to Yarm. We’ve got a connection with the town, it’s 800 years of history my family’s a part of.

“After this, the dodgems wouldn’t be able to go again. After October, as things are going, with the street planters getting organised to come in, that’s the dodgems no more. That’s it, finished.”

John Murphy, who runs the dodgems at Yarm Fair

He said he would like to discuss the possibility of movable street furniture, as in other towns like Stokesley and Northallerton, but so far had not been given options over the street furniture.

“It’s permanent. They just told us where they’re going and that’s it,” he said.

“It’s going to have a major impact on my family, my business, my livelihood. Just to not be considered, there isn’t an option, I just think it’s unfair.

“It’s so upsetting for me. I haven’t been sleeping.

“It is a business but it’s a part of my heritage, of who we are. It’s a major event for us and we’re proud of it. This is part of who I am as a travelling showman.

“We’re very privileged to come to this historic event. We go to 10 street fairs a year.

“We’re not here to say, ‘You shouldn’t put that there.’ We just want to come, like we have done for six generations, 130 years, to Yarm.”

Councillor John Coulson, who represents Yarm on the council, said he had been involved in a consultation about developing the high street three years ago, then was presented with the specific plans just before they were announced to the public earlier this year.

Councillor John Coulson has criticised the consultation process (Image: LDR)

He said: “We weren’t really given any time to digest it.

“This greatly affects the fair. It was 1207 when King John made this charter, this has gone on for years and years.

“You think of the fair, you think of the Murphys. When we open the fair, the chair of Yarm Town Council does the proclamation and that’s done on the dodgems.

“We need to have a site meeting to make 100 per cent certain. It looks as though that’s where it’s going to impact.

“I was hoping it will be movable, but nothing’s been mentioned. They’ve given the fair an hour and an half’s notice.”

He raised the matter at the council’s last cabinet meeting, saying: “In 1207, King John raised a charter to have Yarm Fair three times a year. That has gone on since that date.

“The redevelopment of the High Street took place. We didn’t have a chance to question that.”

He said the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, which runs the fair, had been “informed but not involved” and had been told “those are the plans, make sure this is the last year the dodgems will go there because this is what’s going to happen”.

He told councillors: “This is wrong. It’s just wrong. There was no communication with the Showmen’s Guild, that is not right.”

Iain Robinson, assistant director for town centre development, said there had been a meeting with the Showmen’s Guild that day and a conversation about Yarm Fair in future years:

“The impact upon Yarm Fair was considered as part of the design of the High Street. It’s one of a number of considerations that we take into account,” he said.

Council leader Cllr Lisa Evans gave an assurance that she would try to arrange a meeting with officers, Cllr Coulson and the Showmen’s Guild.

She added: “At cabinet in July, I committed to meeting with organisers of the Showmen’s Guild, Yarm councillors and officers to discuss their concerns about the Yarm High Street improvement scheme and to work with them to offer support to the historic fair. This meeting is in the process of being organised.”