We were appalled to learn that the local showmen have been prevented from setting up the funfair in the town centre. The Wilsons have, for generations, held a funfair in the town centre for a week in September. In the past the fair has been sited around the church green, the top of Unicorn Hill, Royal Yard and Alcester Street.

In its time, this fair was, other than Stratford Mop and Nottingham Goose Fair, the largest of its kind in the Midlands. Tommy Wilson, his father and, perhaps more importantly, his grandfather have been great benefactors to local charities, in particular the Smallwood Hospital, and the people of Redditch are very much indebted to them. Tommy Wilson is legally entitled to hold this fair, and the ill-advised council are out of order in trying to prevent them from doing so. I have it on good authority that our MPs office has been contacted and Karen Lumley will be involved when she returns from holiday.

Will our council will do the honourable thing and compensate our showmen for their loss of earnings, and either give their permission for the fair to continue to be held in the town in the years to come, or come to some financial arrangement which will be to the showmen’s satisfaction?

It was also of interest to read that the council, in their wisdom, have discussed the matter with the HSE.

I don’t think any farce would be quite complete without that little body putting in their threepennies worth.

David W Stubbings Name and address supplied