Covid-19 compliant funfair comes to Gosport park

A FUNFAIR has come to Gosport this weekend – with Covid-compliant measures satisfying health officials after councillors raised concerns.
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The fair, in Walpole Park, will run from Saturday to Sunday, before returning on Thursday, September 17 to run until Sunday, September 20.

Health officials approved for the fair to go ahead after it submitted a Covid risk assessment last week, followed by visit from environmental health officers who found the site to be compliant.

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Council leader Mark Hook said: ‘We recognised there could be problems, and the funfair completed a risk assessment.

A Covid-compliant funfair has come to Gosport this weekend - and it returns next week. Picture: UK Theme ParksA Covid-compliant funfair has come to Gosport this weekend - and it returns next week. Picture: UK Theme Parks
A Covid-compliant funfair has come to Gosport this weekend - and it returns next week. Picture: UK Theme Parks

‘We have a Safety Advisory Group that looks into it and they wouldn’t sign off until they were satisfied Covid safety had been taken into account.’

The funfair has put in place hand sanitiser station in queues and social distancing measures throughout the site, including marshals to ensure people are maintaining their distance.

It comes as Portsmouth recorded 30 people with coronavirus in the week to September 8, while Gosport saw its infection rate jump to 5.9 per 100,000 up from 2.4 with five new cases in the seven days to September 8.

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The funfair has marshals to ensure guests are practicing social distancing. Picture: UK Theme ParksThe funfair has marshals to ensure guests are practicing social distancing. Picture: UK Theme Parks
The funfair has marshals to ensure guests are practicing social distancing. Picture: UK Theme Parks
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Staff at the entrance will also keep a tally of the visitor numbers to ensure the site does not become overcrowded, and councillors are calling on the public to enjoy the attraction responsibly.

Gosport Town ward councillor Keith Farr added: ‘I’m concerned that this weekend that there will a lot of people going out.

‘I thought it may be difficult to follow social distancing but if they can enforce it, fair enough.

‘We need people to follow the guidelines.’

The funfair is hoping to offer ‘something for everyone’, including dodgems, waltzers, a ghost ride, and a new fun house added this year, according to the fair’s director John Searle.

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He said: ‘We’ve got a load of space – we’ve not put anything too close, so there’s plenty of room for the public.

‘We’re not cutting back in terms of rides, the rides are still the same value for money, we’re just controlling the site with these measures.

‘The council seems very pleased with how we’ve done it, and we’re up and running which we’re pleased with.

‘I think we’re going to be okay.’

The funfair will be open from 1pm to 8pm on Saturdays, 1pm to 5pm on Sundays, and 5pm to 8pm on weekdays.

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