NO FAIRGROUND bookings were made for the May half term this year in Weymouth as increased parking charges drove up the fee to use the Pavilion site.

That's according to a committee report to Weymouth Town Council - as the authority is set to decide on when the funfair will visit Weymouth next year.

The rental fee to use the Pavilion forecourt, where the funfair takes place, is based on car parking charges and the number of spaces used.

Due to an increase in parking fees, this led to an increase in the rental cost and council officers were unable to secure bookings in 2024 during the May half term as costs were said to be "too high".

A decision is set to be made on proposed dates for the 2025 funfair season at tonight’s Weymouth Town Council Environment and Service Committee meeting.

The proposed 2025 funfair dates are as follows:

April 5 - April 21 (Easter holidays)

May 3 - May 5 (May Day weekend)

May 24 - June 1 (May half term)

July 26 - August 31

October 25 - November 2 November 5 (Bonfire night)

Additional dates were also proposed as August 8 – 20 at the Jubilee Clock.

Fairground operators are also being asked to improve the energy efficiency of their operations and to reduce the use of diesel generators.

Since December 2022, the town council has received feedback from a small minority of people and businesses ‘who feel the seasonal fairgrounds should not be sited and operated from the Pavilion forecourt.