A request to stage a circus at Kernan in Portadown for a week in May has been turned down amid fears of damage to the grounds – with ABC Council agreeing to explore alternative sites.
Locals lobbied councillors yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon after Armagh I reported that a decision on Circus Vegas was to be taken last night.
In agreeing to reject proposals, the cost of putting right any potential damage – and the length of time to do that – were to the fore in objectors’ thinking.
The environment committee had been asked to approve the use of the gravel pitch at the Central Sports Arena from May 5 to 11, with a report detailing 500 visitors expected at twice-daily performances over four days.
While it was pointed out the family-owned Circus Vegas was a ’no-animals’ show, Head of Climate, Parks and Sustainability Claire Duddy accepted: “This booking request, if approved, would displace some football bookings potentially, and will also bring some additional traffic to the area.
“However, discussions have been taking place with the circus organisers to try to minimise any disruption to both the cemetery staff and the general public in that vicinity.”
DUP Alderman Margaret Tinsley objected on multiple grounds.
She said while she had “no doubt that this is a great community-minded circus”, there was no traffic management system plan attached to the report. She also had concerns over how it would be managed if it coincided with funerals at Kernan Cemetery.
Alderman Tinsley, who had contacted officers to discuss the issue, explained it had been suggested that the car parking was going to be used at the back of where the model aircraft club currently meet.
And she stated: “They have no notification of this. The model car club have no notification, and neither has any of the football clubs, and there’s eight of those on a Saturday alone. My concern is cancelling all of those, stakeholders that are there every single week.
“In addition to that, how are we going to deal with the funerals if there’s no plan in place with regards to that?”
The Portadown representative also voiced concerns over car parking at Kernan Cemetery, with no spaces for visitors there if people attending the circus were to park up.
This led to fears of a return to “double parking on the road”, with residents impacted and “neither able to get up or down”.
Alderman Tinsley said the plans indicated two people “looking after the 500 people coming in and directing them to ticket sales, as well as managing the traffic”.
“I have a concern about that,” she said, as well as highlighting worries over the impact on the parking facilities used by the model aircraft club.”
Stated Alderman Tinsley: “Whenever Covid was upon us and the Trust used that car park, it was left in such a state that it took a considerable amount of money to rectify.
“Now I am aware that there’s a deposit comes in from the circus, and that should cover the expenditure needed, however, it took up to 18 months to get the surface back before the individuals using the aircraft club could actually fly their planes without fear of damage.”
The DUP representative told the meeting: “Armagh I got a hold of this this afternoon, and from 4.30pm today, residents are very concerned about everything that I have laid out. They’re just reiterating those concerns.
“My proposal would be that we do not accept this recommendation, however, officers then discuss alternative sites with the company that will cause less disruption to residents and stakeholders.”
Ulster Unionist Councillor Kate Evans seconded the proposal and said she too had residents contact her since the story had appeared on Armagh I.
“They’re already tortured with parking down around that area,” she said, “so I’m more than happy to second Alderman Tinsley’s proposal and see if there’s somewhere else that we can potentially use.”
