Bring back fun days

The annual Newark Festival could make a comeback, and be even bigger than before.

Mrs Gill Dawn told the town council leisure committee on Wednesday that she wanted a proper festival to return to the town.

The three-day event was scrapped five years ago, despite thousands being attracted, because of a lack of sponsorship.

In the final year, the town council met £34,000 of the £54,000 bill, equivalent to more than £5 for every home in the town.

It was held at the beginning of the school summer holidays for 14 years, drawing about 25,000 people in its final year.

Twenty bands performed on a stage in the Riverside Park, where people could picnic and socialise.

Mrs Dawn said families looked forward to the event and it was something that everybody could enjoy free of charge.

“It was good for the pub trade, it was good for the shops, it was good for the restaurants.

“It was good for everybody,” she said.

Mrs Dawn said events that currently took place, such as Newark Day and the Food And Drink Festival had limited appeal.

She asked the council to bring back a proper festival that was family friendly.

“I know people who used to go down at 8 or 9 o’clock in the morning to get their place and stay there all day,” she said. “It was something that people looked forward to.”

She said that she and other members of the Independent group would urge people to let the council know what they felt about the festival and say if they wanted it to return.

The chairman, Mr David Nixon, found it strange that something so successful should be taken away from the town.

He said the council’s summer picnic had become so popular they were looking at holding it as a separate event from the Brass Explosion, which finishes the day, and that event could be held over two days.

“I have no problem looking at this idea,” he said.

It was agreed that they should explore the idea of entertainment events, including a festival, being organised by the town council.

Helen Gent suggested a festival could run throughout two weekends.

She said many people to whom she had spoken had asked about the festival and said it was a perfect opportunity to bring something that people enjoyed back into Newark.

She suggested the town council could employ an experienced events organiser on a temporary contract.

It was agreed the council should continue with its Battle Of The Bands competition, open to people under 21, but consider widening the area they came from, to include Balderton, Farndon and Coddington.