Amusementtrader.com

A family-owned funfair is threatening to end a 70-year-old tradition by pulling out of a Shropshire carnival.

A row is looming over who should foot the bill for the policing of Shifnal’s fair, which is in town at the same time as the annual carnival, taking place next month.

Managers from Pat Collins Funfairs paid out almost £5,000 to cover the cost of policing at last year’s event. But they are refusing to pay out again, saying it is a community event that benefits not only residents but also businesses.

They want help from Shifnal Town Council, which is refusing to get involved. The council says it cannot spend tax-payers’ money on supporting a profit-making business.

The fair was also thrown into jeopardy last year when West Mercia Police asked for £11,000 to police the event.

More than 400 residents packed the village hall to express their outrage and the police bill was eventually slashed to £4,886.

Anthony Harris, proprietor of Pat Collins Fun Fair, claimed the council had offered to pay some money towards the police bill for the 2007 event, which the council denies.

Mr Harris said: “I finished up paying £4,800 which was absolutely catastrophic in terms of the fair - we can’t afford to pay that sort of money out.

Mr Harris said there “won’t be a fair” this year if they are faced with the same level of costs again.

“The council have said they were not prepared to get involved with the policing or street closures. The commitment beggars belief,” he added.

Mr Harris said they would expect to get a bill from the police after putting in for permission for Bridgnorth District Council to close High Street for the fair.

Peter Hurlstone, clerk of Shifnal Town Council, said: “The council has never said they will pay any money towards it.

“The council re-considered the issue this year at a meeting on January 17. On January 22, I wrote to the funfair to say we would not be involved in the fair or road closures or policing.

“The town council cannot use council tax-payers’ money to prop up a private profit-making business.”

TWO fairground workers were injured when a section of rollercoaster track plunged 20 feet and landed on top of them.

The men were taking the track apart at the Whites and M&D’s funfair when the horror accident happened yesterday afternoon at East India Harbour in Greenock.

Both men were taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

One was treated for a punctured lung and suspected fractured pelvis, while the other was treated for a possible punctured lung. The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

A spokeswoman for Whites and M&D’s told the Tele: “We can confirm there was an incident yesterday at Planet Fun in Greenock that occured while staff were dismantling the Wild Mouse ride. A piece of track fell off and injured two people.

“No members of the public were around at the time. Both were taken to hospital as a precaution. Our health and safety team is looking into the incident.”

Ambulance crews and police attended the scene, although the accident is not being treated as a police matter.