Fairground ride owner fears new High Street plans will 'finish' his dodgems

A FAMILY which has served an 800-year-old fair for six generations fears its dodgems could be "finished".

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

Fairground operator John Murphy says his family has been coming to Yarm Fair for more than 130 years.

They run the dodgems, which plays an important part in the fair as it hosts the annual proclamation of an 800-year-old royal charter.

Now John, 40, says he fears the loss of his livelihood since Stockton Council's announcement of new seating areas and planters on Yarm High Street.

He says some of the new street furniture appears to be on the dodgems' position near the Black Bull pub.

John said: "They officially come to open the fair with the dodgems and we have the church service as well.

"Yarm Fair's one of the oldest events in the North East, probably the country. It's six generations the Murphy family's been attending for the Yarm Fair, we've been going about 135 years, it could be longer.

"From my great-great-great-grandfather we've come to Yarm. We've got a connection with the town, it's 800 years of history my family's a part of.

"After this the dodgems wouldn’t be able to go again.

"After October, as things are going, with the street planters getting organised to come in, that’s the dodgems no more."