Memorandum by Cattons Fun Fairs (Amusement
Caterers) (TF 09)
THE CONTINUED
VALUE OF
HISTORIC TRAVELLING
FAIRS
My fun fair—small and traditional—visits
the same villages that my family have attended for over 50 years.
Many of these East Anglian villages ask me to return every year,
sometimes twice a year. Being in a tourist ripe area, the sight
of my fair on a traditional village green surrounded by thatched
cottages, is a real eye catcher and an asset to the local shops
who gain in trade. Whether the same can be said for the larger,
modern fairs I do not know, but the majority of them still attend
the towns on the original feast or charter days. With the ever
increasing new technology, tradition is easily forgotten but it
should not be allowed to fall into peoples' memories but be a
part of the present day.
PROVISION OF
SITES
I do not believe that a site has ever been provided
by a council for showmen to stay on during the winter months.
There are sites available for members of the Showmans Guild of
Great Britain, but we are not all members of that organisation.
Many of us have purchased or rent yards for which there is no
planning permission nor ever likely to be. It is unfortunate that
most councils will not grant permission for a site unless a great
battle takes place and much expense incurred. I believe that sites
should be considered with more sympathy especially if they are
well hidden, quiet and the neighbours can vouch that life has
not changed dramatically since the arrival of the showman's family.
Perhaps a showman could live on a site for one winter period and
if there has been no problem, full permission granted. Most objections
happen because local residents are frightened by the unknown and
judge us before they meet us; after all bad people can live in
houses too.
PARTICULAR NEEDS
Showmen are quite self sufficient but obviously
need all domestic services. Once a showman finishes his season
and his loads returned to the yard, it is unusual for those loads
to move anymore until the spring. There may be need to have a
wider gateway for access but this can be made attractive to the
eye.
Consideration should be given that our employment
is with us and some maintenance is necessary. This does not happen
24 hours a day, seven days a week and restriction could be put
on this in the granting of planning permission. However, every
household makes some noise and cooperation between neighbours
is not unheard of.
Families need to be near health services, schools
and shops the same as everyone else, but we do not like to be
on top of them nor in the middle of housing estates. Showmen like
to be out of the way and left alone—given the chance—which
is why most yards are in rural areas. Obviously a wise showman
would choose somewhere that is not in a prominent position and
hopefully well screened but time must be allowed for new screening
planted to mature.
EFFECTIVENESS OF
EXISTING PLANNING
GUIDANCE
Planning guidance is not easily obtainable from
local councils and if a showman is lucky enough to get the literature
then if they are somewhere they shouldn't be then the planners
know where they are. Planners do not want to advise willingly
and are only to keen to issue enforcement orders. A showman will
normally keep the same yard for generations and if a new place
needs to be found then land is purchased without planning permission.
It is unlikely the family has anywhere else to go and will need
to pull on the plot immediately. This is always frowned upon,
as planning permission has to be sought in retrospect.
ACTION
Some showmen, like myself, rent land and stay
there with the knowledge of most of the village for many years.
It is only when permission is applied for and perhaps people from
the other end of a village have a say in the planning process
then the trouble starts. Permission is usually refused and the
place that the showman has called home for a long time is no longer
home. This is why a showman ought to be able to live on a piece
of land with the councils' knowledge and, if there have been no
objections from the near neighbours, then surely the council would
have little reason to reject permission. The showman should be
given the chance to become a member of the community to expel
the automatic prejudice that exists in a lot of people's minds.
None of us like to be overcrowded but showmen normally like their
offspring around them, permission should not be for unlimited
habitation. Perhaps two or three unit's maximum.
Showmen should not be regarded the same as gypsies,
new age travellers, hippies or as all criminals. We are clean,
tidy business people who should be treated equally as any resident
in the United Kingdom.
Sites should not be detrimental to the environment
but the meaning of the word detrimental needs to be clearly defined.
Restrictions should be allowed on planning permission
to prevent the sale of yards to anyone other than a showman to
prevent gypsy or new age camps being put on those sites.
There must be room and time for discussion between
the planners and showmen and all to often this results in eviction
of the family either to another piece of land or the offer of
a council house from which an age old occupation cannot be followed.
We all own our own living wagons/caravans—we just want somewhere
to put them. We are single story and with the right screening
people would not even know we were there.
Your consideration of my opinions would be appreciated.
Mrs Janet Catton
February 2000
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