The showmen who bring Goose Fair to Nottingham fear that Europe's largest touring circus taking over the site just days before the fair could cause disruption. They're concerned that if it rains it could leave the grassy field churned up, making it difficult for them to set up the rides and attractions.
Gandeys Circus will be bringing its big top to the Forest Recreation Ground for 20 performances from Saturday, September 10, to Sunday, September 18. But the decision by Nottingham City Council to allow the fair on the site hasn't gone down well with everyone.
William Percival, chairman of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Showman's Guild, said at a meeting "our members were going barmy about it". "What we are concerned about, if it rains circuses do tend to leave a bit of a mess and we are concerned when our members pull on the ground will not be very good," he said.
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"We have complained about it and sent an official letter in to the powers that be at Nottingham City Council to see if they'll intervene to see if we can have this circus moved to one of the other parks."
The centuries-old Goose Fair is due to take place from September 30 to October 9 - the first since 2019. It has been extended to 10 days to make up for the event being postponed over the last two years. Fears over crowd safety during the pandemic meant it didn't go ahead.
The ride operators arrive several days before the fair opens to allow plenty of time for setting up. Mr Percival said: "We feel that it's not fair on the local residents in the area because Goose Fair is a big thing and there's a lot of disruption traffic-wise, and then they go an put a circus on there for 10 days before us as well. So that's another 10 days people in the area have got to be disrupted.
"They have never had a circus the week before Goose Fair before. They had a circus last year but there was no Goose Fair. We are not very happy about it at all. The circus could have been in Woodthorpe or Wollaton Park.
"We are waiting for the reply back from them. It doesn't seem fair when there's been no Goose Fair for three years. It's not fair on the members and it's not fair on the public really. They 've only got a certain amount of money to come."
No one from Nottingham City Council was available for comment but a spokesperson for Gandeys Circus said: "This issue was only being raised last week and the site has being booked since our last visit last autumn about 12 months ago.
"Tickets have been on sale for several months now and Gandeys Circus will occupy the area next to the park and which is less than the size of a football pitch, this represents a very small portion of the Forest site. Should the weather be inclement we will lay track way for the heavy vehicles.
"As a company we always strive to protect the sites we visit hence the reason Gandeys has been touring for over 100 years on regular sites. We are looking forward to visit Nottingham as we always receive fantastic support from the city and wish the Goose Fair continued success."
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