Forum topic: Victory for "4 Not 24" campaigners

300 people turned out for the protest meeting in Broomfield Park (Photo source: Facebook - Shelly Morgan)

A campaign against a planned funfair in Broomfield Park which would have lasted for 24 days has been successful.  The responsible Enfield cabinet member has written to neighbouring residents stating that the fair will not be held this year and that the council will be applying tighter conditions on future funfairs and circuses in the park to address the various issues raised by campaigners.

The campaign, under the name "4 Not 24", was launched after people living near Broomfield Park discovered that Cogger's had applied to run a fair from 10th August to 1st September, located on the sports field in close proximity to houses in Broomfield Avenue.  This news was the final straw for neighbours and other users of Broomfield Park, who were already concerned about changes in the frequency and nature of events in the park in recent times and their impact on the park and its environs. After initial online discussions on Palmers Green Community and Facebook, an open-air meeting in the park was arranged at short notice.

Strength of feeling

The strength of feeling became clear when some 300 people turned up at the meeting on 23rd June.  Among them were local MP Bambos Charalambous and councillors representing Palmers Green and Southgate Green wards. Attendees queued up to sign a paper petition using the same title, which reflects the view that a 4-day fair would be acceptable, but a 24-day event would not.  This was followed by an online petition, which has so far collected some 850 signatures.

Subsequently, three campaigners - Dan Baer, Penny Austin and Dave Thomas - were invited to a meeting at the Civic Centre, where they held discussions with deputy council leader Daniel Anderson, cabinet member for the environment Guney Dogan and senior council officers.

Confirmation that the meeting had been a success came yesterday in the form of a letter from Cllr Dogan stating that the planned August fair would not go ahead this year.  In the case of future fairs, the council will require that

• the duration will be no longer than four days
• the fair will comprise rides oriented specifically at families and children
• the fair will finish by 7pm
• there will be less pollution and noise from the fair and its generators and less rubbish
• the location of the fair will be rotated around the park
• there will be extra security
• there will be less plastic waste, eg by using paper straws
• healthier food will be available.

"I've never met such a committed and passionate bunch"

Dan Baer has expressed his delight not just with the outcome, but also with the way the community threw itself into the campaign:

"Working with my neighbours on this campaign has been an amazing experience. I’ve never met such a committed and passionate bunch, and my family and I feel very lucky to live here in Palmers Green. Hats off too to Enfield Council and all the councillors involved, as well as Bambos Charalambous MP, for engaging with us from the beginning and standing for us at the end.

"Finally, I look forward to taking my daughter to Coggers new improved funfair next summer. I think everyone will get behind it and ensure it’s a great success."