Our village fair brings everyone out but we're not sure we can make it happen this time

Phil Spencer and Lynne Longshaw from Bromborough Village Community Association (BVCA)
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


A popular village fair’s future is in doubt after a community group was told they have to move all of their stuff. Two containers in Bromborough Village are set to be moved after being deemed a blight on the area.

The issue has been going on for years despite the containers initially being installed by Wirral Council for the Bromborough Village Community Association (BVCA.) One is at the back of the St Barnabus Centre car park while the other is behind Bromborough Village Hall several metres from the road and completely invisible behind a three metre high wooden fence.

The first container was installed in 2012 followed by the second in 2014. However the BVCA were later told the containers were out of step with planning regulations for the local area and the group have since had to apply for permission several times.

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Inside apartment 'near the beach' up for auction for £45,000

READ MORE: Murder arrest 20 years after woman found dead near Pen-y-ghent

Despite initially contesting that they had to remove the containers and hitting out at Wirral Council, the group now acknowledges planning permission granted for the containers in May 2022 said it was final. A decision notice said the containers had to be removed on or before May 20 and restore the land to its former condition.

Phil Spencer from Bromborough Village Community Association (BVCA)
Phil Spencer from Bromborough Village Community Association (BVCA)

Phil Spencer, from the BVCA, said: “We still have to find somewhere to go,” adding it would likely have an impact on their plans for the Bromborough Village Summer Fair in June. The event held every year has previously featured craft and food stalls, face painting, a bouncy slide, games, a BBQ, and live music.

Mr Spencer said: “We might not be able to provide any canopies as well as gazebos as we won’t have anywhere to put them. We will have to act but the difficulty is where do we put the stuff that we have got?”

ADVERTISEMENT

The second container looks like it could remain for the time being as it is completely invisible from the road on private land underneath a covering. Mr Spencer said: “We are seeking a solution to that and I can’t see that is going anywhere quickly. They might say let’s look at this at a later date.

“One container is better than none. It’s not without trying but it’s difficult for us to plan at this stage. We are looking to cut down on what we can do and what we can provide really.”

Lynne Longshaw said the fair helped the group to fundraise. She told the ECHO: “It really brings the whole community out. It brings all the traders together,” adding: “We would have to do it differently but would we want to? We definitely wouldn’t be able to do what we do now.”

A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “It was clear in the granting of planning permission previously that the use of these containers should be temporary and the limited time that they were permitted for was on condition that the group found a suitable, long-term option. The previous planning decisions acknowledged the units were providing a benefit to the community but otherwise would not be considered appropriate development within a Conservation Area.

“This planning consent expires in May 2025 which means by that time we would expect the units to have been removed. Council officers are working with the group to explore whether alternative solutions are available.”