THERE was drama in Redditch town centre on Monday evening as council vehicles blocked every entrance to the pedestrianised area of Church Green to prevent the historic Wilson's funfair from setting up on the land.

This follows a bitter feud between the fair and owner Tommy Wilson, and the council, which has rolled on for several years.

Mr Wilson says a historic covenant drawn up in 1962, states the council will allow the fair access to the town centre for one week every September.

But when Mr Wilson has tried to seek permission for the last five years to come into the town centre, he has been refused.

Both sides took legal advice and the situation escalated when Mr Wilson wrote to the council and said he would be moving his fair onto the land on Monday, September 15.

But when he arrived, council vehicles were blocking every entrance to the pedestrian area, preventing the fair from gaining access.

Mr Wilson said: "Our fun fair has been a part of Redditch life for so long, and the covenant clearly states that the council agrees to allow us access to set up in the town centre during September.

"It is extremely upsetting that we are being treated in this way. The council says it can't allow us access as it's county highways land, not theirs, and yet they set up their vehicles as blockades on this land which they claim they don't actually own."

A member of the public who contacted the Advertiser but wishes to stay anonymous said: "I understand today there has been a stand-off with Redditch Council and the local fairground that has been coming into the town for generations

"Tommy Wilson's fair has donated large sums of money over the years to Redditch charities. Not only have local charities been denied money but the local community has been deprived of a local fair, I understand the fair travels all over the country yet has been stopped by the council on it's own ground.

"The council today have blocked off the Church Green areas with council vans. It is disgraceful."

A council spokesman said: "There is currently a dispute with Wilsons Amusements (Redditch) Ltd. in relation to the terms and application of a clause contained in a conveyance of land dating from the 1960s.

"The council have been in discussions with Wilsons and their solicitors for some considerable time in an attempt to resolve this dispute but, for various reasons, are unable to accommodate Wilsons requirements regarding the location of the fair.

"Alternative sites have been offered, and refused by Wilsons, however the council remains hopeful that an amicable resolution can eventually be reached.

"Having been made aware, at very short notice, that Wilsons intended to set up a fair in the town centre without the requisite authority, the council discussed the matter with partner agencies including Worcestershire County Council, West Mercia Police and the HSE and, taking into account the content of those discussions it was deemed appropriate to prevent Wilsons accessing the town centre area when they turned up.

"The council had relayed their position to Wilsons prior to them arriving at Church Green and it is unfortunate that they decided to ignore the contents of our communications with them.”