FUN fair owners in Maldon believe the district council want to get rid of them, despite coming to the town for more than 100 years.

Five generations of the Nicholls family have been bringing their fun fair to Promenade Park in the town for 101 years this summer.

The week-long fair has seen multiple different families bringing their own attractions to the park for the public to enjoy during July, including dodgems, coconut shies, rides, bouncy castles and food stands.

However, Marshall Nicholls, 72, the latest generation to manage the fair, said they have come under increased resistance from Maldon District Council within the past five years.

Mr Nicholls claims the fair has been moved around various areas of the park, and has been forced to reduce in size and numbers due to constant interference.

This year, the family received a letter stating that due to a complaint from a nearby resident, no loud noise or music could be played at the fair.

Mr Nicholls said: “The problems have been going on for the past four to five years.

“In the last two years, the council have denied permission for us to have our smaller children’s fair alongside the main fun fair, when we have run it for the past 15 years.

“Now with this complaint letter, it really feels like they’re being biased against us and want us gone.

“The letter was sent a couple of weeks ago, but since then there have been music events and the outdoor cinema in the park which have been playing loud music.

“But apparently, due to this one complaint, we can’t have music playing when we’re here.”

Mr Nicholls believes the council’s pressure has contributed to a fall in numbers at the fair this year.

It was held from Saturday July 21 until Sunday. Normally they would be open until midnight on weekends and 11pm on weekdays, however they closed as early as 8pm this year.”

Mr Nicholls added: “We used to have up to 30 different families bringing their stalls and rides here, now we have about eight.

“It seems ludicrous to me that something that’s been happening here for a century can be brought down or limited by one or two complaints.

“This is our livelihood, our way of life, we bring the fair here for the people. We used to be so loved by previous councils and the people who came here, but it seems this current council don’t want us.”

Penny Nicholls, Mr Nicholls’ wife, said: “This here is the people’s park. We come here for the people, and those who come to us love it when we do. We don’t understand why the council would want to stop it.

“With no or little music, there is no fun fair. There’s absolutely no atmosphere and people won’t want to come.”

Council’s community services chairman Bob Boyce said: “The Promenade Park is one of Maldon district’s most popular locations for tourists, activities and events.

"The parks events programme includes a variety of sporting events, children’s play, arts and crafts as well as traditional circuses and fairs which have, for a number of years, been held on the events field adjacent to Park Drive.

"As part of our event planning, adjustments are made where possible to minimise any local disturbance to residents. The council also has to consider location as part of operational planning. This approach is consistent for all activities undertaken on the park and not just to Maldon Funfair."

Richard Holmes, director of customers and community said “The council needs to maintain a difficult balance providing much loved events and attractions and minimising disturbance to local residents. Officers believe they are acting reasonably, fairly and consistently to ensure this balance is achieved”.