Resident's anger at funfair at Taunton's French Weir Park

The E Stokes funfair was set up over the Bank Holiday weekend in Taunton’s French Weir Park.

People who live near the park have hit out at Taunton Deane Borough Council for allowing the event to take place without residents being informed.

They have taken issue with the strong smell from the diesel generators, the crowded caravans and noise in what they claim was an ‘unsuitable’ location for a fair.

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Nearby resident Wendy Ritson said: “I am sitting in my garden on a hot summer afternoon, listening to the birds and smelling the flowers. 

“Except that I can’t hear the birds for a continuous roar like a B52 bomber, and can’t smell the flowers for diesel fumes. Go inside? All the windows must be kept closed. The reason? I live by French Weir Park. 

“Without consultation, Taunton Deane Borough Council gave a licence for a Bank Holiday four-day funfair in the park.

“This is a small domestic park, well-used by picnickers, games players, dog walkers and sunbathers – quite unsuitable for a funfair. 

“Residents live only yards away, and there are virtually no car parking spaces. There is simply no room for a fair.” All caravans were packed like sardines.” and to cross to the river people had to walk round the perimeter.”

Crowds flock to a family fun day at French Weir Park last year

Councillor Jefferson Horsley, said: “Of course, we welcome the opportunity to bring events such as funfairs to Taunton and we all accept that the council needs to raise additional income with the continuing squeeze on services by the withdrawal of the rate support grant. 

“What it should not be doing, is disregarding the interests of the residents. It should work alongside them and listen to their suggestions to minimise problems.”

Despite his complaints, he said his grandchildren attended the fair and “enjoyed themselves immensely.”

Cllr Horsley claims the council ‘failed’ to communicate with the Friends of French Weir until days before the event, but the group says it was informed around three weeks before.

Amber Packer-Hughes, events co-ordinator for the Friends group, said: “The council approached me around three weeks before and asked me what I thought. I said there would be a few people against it but generally most people would appreciate it. It comes with the territory of living near a public open space.

“I know how strict the regulations are for running an event here as I have been doing it for more than a decade. The funfair organisers also got in touch. Everyone was on-the-ball.

“I live in Portland Street and I couldn’t hear a thing until I got to the park. It was a real family-friendly event.”

A Taunton Deane Borough Council spokesman said all correct procedures had been followed by organisers.

She said: “French Weir Park in Taunton is a designated recreation park and open for hire for events. Income from events like these is channelled back into the park and used to maintain and enhance the open space.

“The funfair organisers expressed an interest in holding an event and went through a rigorous process of approval. 

“The council contacted the Friends of French Weir Park who responded with enthusiasm for the event to go ahead and council officers conducted an inspection on Friday where no concerns were noted.”

Organiser, Edward Stokes, said: "We are very thrilled at the success of our fair in french weir park, it was overwhelming how much support we had and with such wonderful weather over the weekend making a lovely, family atmosphere overall.

"We understand the concerns from some residents and welcomed their comments and issues and done all in our power we could to iron them out as soon as we were told about the concerns.

"We planned to take up as less of the park as as we could so everyone who uses it daily could still do so with as less interruption from us as possible. We always try and keep our caravans in a contained area making sure we abide by safe fire regulation distance with a emergency access route, as so we did at french weir park.

"All our generators are modern and tested at manufacturing point to be super silent and are well below emissions regulations. The smells can be confused coming from them but it's the overall smell of heavy machinery from the whole fair. Most fun fair fans love the overall smell calling it a distinct, nostalgic funfair aroma.

"We also made sure all fairground generators where switched off at 9pm prompt, even on our last day when we dismantled our equipment. We as always have the upmost respect for all parks we do business on but French weir is closest to our hearts considering my wife and our children were all born in Taunton, it's also the nearest town to our base in Ilton just ten miles away.

"Both my myself and my wife are 6th generation traveling showmen and both of our families have mainly traveled in and around Somerset, so for us to have brought a lovely supported, family fun fair to the heart of Taunton would have been something our ancestors would of been proud of. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their overwhelming support and wonderful messages."