Fair loss blamed on high charges

Rainbow Fairs holds events throughout the country and for the past few years has been holding a craft fair at the Croft Circuit.

But letters have been sent from the company to people who have visited the fair in the past, saying this year it will be held at Newcastle.

The letter, from Shaun and Connie Duckworth, of Rainbow Fairs, claims that Darlington Borough Council has ordered the company to pay £700 to hold the event at Croft, to protect its own market.

Because of this fee, the company claims it has been forced to move the fair to Newcastle Racecourse.

Mr Duckworth said: "We wonder if the council realises how much business will have been taken from this area with exhibitors accommodation, restaurants used by visitors and exhibitors, fuel purchased by both parties, plus extra shopping in the area.

"However, we have been more than welcomed to take the show to Newcastle Racecourse. Even better news is that the whole show will be housed within the racecourse buildings."

But Darlington Borough Council has denied there was a dispute over its fees or that its charges caused the fair to move.

A spokesman said: "We do have a charter which allows us to charge a fee to anyone holding a market in our area to protect our own market.

"A fee, which was less than £700, was agreed with the company, and as far as we were aware the fair was going ahead and we were drawing up contracts, but now it seems they want to move to Newcastle."

It has been suggested that the company decided to move to Newcastle because the venue was under cover and would not be affected by adverse weather.

Shoppers have reacted angrily to the news that the market will not be held in Darlington.

Terry Wright, from Darlington, said: "Local residents have been deprived of the opportunity to visit a very large fair that would have had some 200-plus stands featuring a variety of hand-crafted products."

The craft fair will be held in Newcastle on December 8 and 9