DESPITE the loss of the Lymm May Queen field due to poor drainage following heavy rain, organisers of the annual event are pressing ahead on Saturday May 18th.
Due to the unprecedented wet weather the May Queen field has experienced over the last six months, the grass field is not coping well with the raised water table.
Warrington Borough Council decided 4 weeks before the festival was due to take place that the May Queen field was not in a fit state to hold the event. The rain hasn’t been the only concern; the drainage on the field has not operated effectively for quite some time, and last year’s event had several large openings where the earth was washed away, with the largest opening measuring over 4 feet wide and several feet deep. The sinkholes pose a considerable risk to the safety of residents and visitors.
The new may queen May Queen Committee jumped into action with a full risk assessment to move the entirety of the event to the Davies Way and Henry Street car parks, in the centre of Lymm Village from 10 am until 5 pm. The main entrances will be at Bridgewater Street (WA13 0AD) and the entrance to Davies Way (WA13 0LP). This wasn’t the first time the festival was moved, in 2018 the crowning ceremony was held at Lymm Hall when the 2017 May Queen was rained out. The committee intends to have the festival back on the field next year, but for now, this was the only option as other outdoor locations were in the same waterlogged condition.
The new committee has also organised the return of the fun fair with the historical provider, Silcocks. The Silcocks family in Lymm dates back to the 1980s, so organisers are excited to have them return with all-new rides to get the heart racing!
Lymm May Queen Chair Jenna Brown said: “The procession will have a new starting point from Pepper Street at 12 pm and make its way through the village on Eagle Brow, where it will turn down Brookfield Road and finish at the entrance of Davies Way. These changes meant that an entirely new Management Plan was created to include additional provisions for free parking, complete with a shuttle service to and from the event. The Lymm Rugby Club (WA13 0AS) has graciously provided FREE parking and opened its Clubhouse to the public to serve food and drinks to those waiting for the next shuttle to arrive. The shuttle is expected to operate continuously around the village between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm.
She added: “The May Queen Event will have all the expected food and drink concessions, artisan stalls and a great entertainment line-up in the Main Arena starting with the Crowning of the Queens at 1:30 pm, followed by music and the award-winning A Class Dance Academy. The Fun Fair will have larger rides, including the Twister, Miami, and the classic Side Kick. We haven’t forgotten the little ones! There will be smaller versions of the funfair rides just for them, such as an animal farm, a circus, and The Savage Skills Stunt Show.”
The proposed lay out of the May Queen event
