Easter Fair banned from Greenhead Park to protect the ground for big summer events

A FAIRGROUND has been banned from Greenhead Park – to protect the venue for big summer events including Huddersfield Carnival and Jubilee celebrations.

The Showmen’s Guild had been due to put on an Easter Fair in the park in a few weeks’ time.

But Kirklees Council yesterday revealed that the fairground would not be allowed at Greenhead – to protect the grass.

In 2008 the Chinese State Circus damaged the park when its heavy machinery churned up the field next to the war memorial.

A council spokesman explained the decision yesterday.

“We do not think Greenhead Park is suitable for the event, given the current state of the main arena,” he said.

“With the numbers expected and little or no grass cover in places, and not enough sub-surface root growth, the ground would take a long time to recover, threatening events which we are already committed to holding later in the year.”

Officers made the decision to protect the park for big events this summer, including Huddersfield Carnival on July 13 and 14 and the three-day music festival to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Concerts in the Park will begin on June 8 when Easy Theatres will perform music by Abba and the Bee Gees in the special one-off show called Thank-you for the Music.

The Orchestra of Opera North will put on a proms concert in the park the following evening.

And on June 10, Party in the Park will return to Greenhead after an absence of four years. The line-up for the free gig is yet to be announced.

The Kirklees spokesman said that the Easter Fair could take place elsewhere in Huddersfield this year.

“We have offered the guild an alternative venue – at Leeds Road – which has been suitable in the past, and we are continuing to work with them in the hope we reach a satisfactory conclusion for all concerned,” he said.

The Yorkshire section of the Showmen’s Guild could not be reached for comment yesterday.

However, it is understood that the group had printed posters and advertisements promoting the six-day event in Greenhead Park before being told of the decision.