FEARS are growing that Yarm Fair may not go ahead this year after health and safety concerns forced the cancellation of parts of the town’s annual gala event last weekend.

Town councillors feel they were hamstrung by over-rigorous safety checks when they were forced to cancel most of the events at Yarm’s annual Gala last weekend.

And Cllr Jason Hadlow said: “We have already had the Showman’s Guild on asking about whether the fair will be able to take place.

“Yarm Fair is always on the cusp when it comes to health and safety. I don’t understand how it can possibly take place given the recent events with the Gala.

“If you’re living in a house on the High Street and we put in a ride which spins people round and round at 60 mph three feet away from your bedroom window, well I don’t think there is a health and safety company in the country that could write a risk assessment saying that was safe.”

But Stockton Council said that providing the town council met their safety guidance there was “no reason” why the centuries-old fair could not take place later this year.

A spokesman said: ““The public safety concerns that impacted on Yarm Gala were raised and agreed on unanimously by the Borough’s Independent Safety Advisory Group (ISAG), which as the name suggests is independent of the Council and made up of professional and emergency services experts. No-one could reasonably expect us to ignore a panel of experts and permit an event to go ahead with inadequate safety plans.

“Problems with the event safety plans for Yarm Gala were made absolutely clear to Yarm Town Council at a meeting with ISAG in January and again at further meetings in April and May. ISAG provided detailed information about the issues Yarm Town Council needed to address and indeed training was provided to Yarm Town Council’s event organiser in April.”

The council said it had “never before” had to cancel an event over ISAG safety concerns.

The spokesman added: “Provided they plan early, seek specialist advice where needed, and respond in a timely and constructive way to the ISAG’s guidance, there is no reason why Yarm Town Council cannot deliver safe and successful events in Yarm, including Yarm Fair.”

Mr Hadlow said he was already working on future events to ensure safety regulations were met.