THE historic Lymm May Queen Festival is to go ahead this year after a rescue package was put together at a stormy emergency meeting of the parish council.
Members of the council agreed to underwrite the event using public funds to avoid members of the organising committee being held personally responsible for any damage that might be caused to gas pipes under the access road to the May Queen Field.
The May Queen committee now has the task of organising the event – including selecting a May Queen, Rose Queen and other characters – before its scheduled date in June
It was a case of “May Queen Mayhem” for a time at the emergency meeting, with the village hall packed with local traders, residents and community leaders.
But after an hour of heated discussion between May Queen Committee members, the public and the Parish Council – then a brief period when council members left the room for a private conference – the festival was given the go-ahead.
Last week, May Queen committee chairman Sean Kerfoot had announced that this year’s festival had been cancelled because organisers feared they could be held personally liable for any damage as vehicles entered or left the May Queen field.
Cost of the damage could be as much as £250,000, he claimed.
Now Lymm Parish Council has agreed to step in and underwrite the event for one year only, using public funds – provided a string of conditions are met.
The May Queen Committee must hold an annual general meeting as soon as possible and have at least eight elected members, holding six meetings a year at which a Lymm Parish councillor will attend.
A bond of £1,000 will also be sought from the fairground operators, which will be used along with any profits from the event, in the first instance, if any damage to pipe work occurs. The council will pick up the bill for any further costs.
The May Queen Committee was also advised to work harder to let the local community know about its activities to make it easier for residents to get involved.
The meeting heard how things had turned “nasty” in Lymm as accusations and insults circulated in the village.
Chairman Coun Joe Griffiths called for an end to the back biting.
He said: “There have been nasty remarks about me in my role as chair. I’m not going to labour that point tonight. I will chair but I won’t comment.”
Local resident Lynn Shaw led comments from the public saying: “A solution has to come out of tonight. The May Queen must go ahead.”
Coun Pam Hunter came up with the idea of the parish council underwriting the and, after leaving the room to discuss the idea in private, the parish council agreed.
Summing up Coun Griffths was met with cheers when he said: “I’m pleased we have managed to resolve this issue. I’ll see you all at the May Queen!”
10 Comments
I attended last night’s meeting and the back biting must be blamed on the council for there handling of the affair. The may queen team proved they had done all they could to get the event on even looking at alternative sites.
Did the council get involved because they realised they had ignored the help requested and how convenient for the borough councillers to have an I T issue when Mr Carefoot proved he had sent mail asking them to do something.
The last Chairwoman gave in and blamed illness for not facing up to her responsibilities. At least Mr Carefoot stood up to them and did his best to protect his team and try and save the may queen.
another thing.
if the coucil were sure there was no lieability problems why do they still want the bond and say they will pay the difference if they no there is no problem?
Now the Commitee have resigned, the Mayqueen can REALLY be rescued
Help will be needed urgently, get involved people.
The committee did not resign they dissolved the society, sadly this sounds the death knell for the future of the event.
Resign or dissolve same difference it’s done. For some strange reason, maybe even political, every attempt has been made to stop the Mayqueen, including “dissolving” at this late stage. Decent people of Lymm will not and are not allowing that to happen it will not be “the death knell for the future of the event”
If the committee has disolved the society we need to form a new society. There are plenty of us who refuse to see the end of this event.
To All the People of Lymm
I do ASSURE you that this years Lymm May Queen WILL be going ahead as planned on the 12th June. There will be a few days of ‘amicable handover’ and then full details with contact numbers and email addresses will be released so you and your families can get involved or come along and enjoy the day
Lymm has traditions that can not be lost. Lymm is one of the villages that lead the way in community events to name a small number such as Dickensian, Duck Race as well as Lymm May Queen and these can not and will not be lost. With the support of the people of Lymm these events can grow even more.
Details for the ‘pickings’ of the May Queen and Rose Queen and their retinues will be with the schools this week and posters will be around the village. There will also be details posted on various web sites.
It is now time to put the past behind and move forward to ensure a brilliant May Queen.
Phil. I did not mean to imply that the new committee would “sound the death knell for the future of the event” or indeed our dissolving of the society would. It will be the access issue next year. We (May Queen and the landowner) have been battling with Warrington Borough Council to find a permanent (alternate access) solution. I started my preparations last November for this year’s event, eventually threatening to cancel for this year in order for them to do something. I knew the uproar it would cause and I hoped it would force WBC to do something, I never intended to split a community, drag the issue through internet chatrooms or engage in “tit for tat” assaults on any member of our village.
The issue that has caused a lot of “discussion” remains the same and that is that the access route to the May Queen field was originally constructed when the typical mode of transport was horse and cart. The possibility of 20 tonne + vehicles being squeezed along it was never considered. There is therefore a potential for damage to the driveway, the services under it and to surrounding properties.
While I fully support the May Queen festival it would not be acceptable for the landowners of the access driveway, Lymm District Guides and 3rd Lymm Scout Group, to shoulder the risk of damage caused by unsuitable vehicles.
Sean Kerfoot and I have tried for some years to get a more suitable access to the May Queen field but alas, without success.
I read in the article that the Parish Council is to underwrite the event. I trust that includes indemnifying the Guides and Scouts against damage to the access and any consequential costs.
Lynn – Good to hear the Lymm May Queen will be going ahead this year.
We would like to have the usual stall on the May Queen field. I have tried to telephone but had no luck in contacting you. I have the Royal British Legion cheque for the booking fee for the stall. Hope thinks are going well with the turnover. Give me a call when you have a minute. Good luck for 2010 May Queen. Please book the RBL in for a stall.