ORGANISERS of the Blandford Georgian Fair are celebrating after councillors voted to allow community events to continue at a town centre beauty spot.

Officers had suggested banning public events at Stour Meadows in the wake of concerns they were harming the environment.

But members of North Dorset District Council's cabinet yesterday rejected that idea in favour of allowing around four events a year subject to an environmental and safety assessment of the site.

After the meeting, Janice Cox, one of the organisers of the fair which uses the meadows as a car park, told the Daily Echo: "We are delighted that common sense has prevailed."

Members agreed that the meadows were a community facility.

Vice chairman Cllr David Whitehead said: "Instead of looking for reasons why we should not use it, we should be looking for reasons why we should use it.

"We are asking Blandford to accommodate the steam fair which is of great benefit to this council, so perhaps we should accommodate them over anything else they want to do on this ground."

Cllr John Tory said the land should not be used in the winter months when the land was wet.

"That's seeking disaster," he added.

Mrs Cox said: "We only allow cars to use the meadows, not lorries or fairgrounds. We are always responsible for clearing up the area and pay the costs."

The debate comes three years after the council was left with a bill for over £3,600 for clearing up following the now defunct Blandford Music Festival.

Members agreed events would normally take place between May and September but would judge each request on its merits.