Statement: Border City Steam Rally cancelled

[Clayton 36731]

With regard to the annual whit bank holiday Border City Steam Fair at Carlisle.

The steam fair was founded in 2009 with full backing of the Conservative Council as a charity event. It was organised and ran by volunteers and fellow enthusiasts. The fair has been a success and has donated many thousands of pounds over the years to local charities such as the Eden Valley Hospice, North Air Ambulance and Maryport Inshore Rescue Team.

The fair has found a firm footing in the steam calendar and boasts over one thousand exhibits and around 10,000 visitors from far and wide. This has generated some 2.5million pounds for the local economy.

Last year we (the organisers) were given disappointing news that the newly elected Labour council were hoping to put the steam fair site Rickerby Park into a DEFRA scheme. This scheme would be for the next 10 years and would give an income of somewhere in the region of £8,000 to the Council. The scheme has many stipulations including no vehicles or events on the land. Obviously this was frowned upon by many Councillors and local people, and we have tried our best to fight it.

Unfortunately Carlisle City Council passed this decision and consequently the Steam Fair lost its site.

We have put much time into seeking a new site and have even had the local press involved in hope we would find somewhere suitable, with no luck.

It is with great regret that we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the event.

We would like to thank all who have been involved in the Border City Steam Fair and all who have came and supported the event.