• Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
    • Business Mag
  • Sport
    • Football
    • NAFC
    • Cricket
    • Durham Wildcats
    • American Football
    • Baseball
    • Rugby
    • Youth Football
  • Features
    • Blog
    • Picture Galleries
  • Community
    • A.T People
    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Aycliffe Today
Aycliffe Today
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
      Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth

      Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth

      You’re Hiyed! The CIC that’s breaking down job barriers

      You’re Hiyed! The CIC that’s breaking down job barriers

      Getting Human Resources back to basics – with HR2day’s free audit offer

      Getting Human Resources back to basics – with HR2day’s free audit offer

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

    • Business Mag
      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

  • Sport
    • Football
      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

    • NAFC
      League campaign returns for Aycliffe after summer changes

      League campaign returns for Aycliffe after summer changes

      More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

      More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

      Aycliffe FC celebrate record season with club awards night

    • Cricket
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

    • Durham Wildcats
      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

    • American Football
      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

    • Baseball
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

    • Rugby
      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

    • Youth Football
      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

  • Features
    • Blog
      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

    • Picture Galleries
      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

  • Community
    • A.T People
      Spring 2015

      Spring 2015

      December 2014

      December 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Council opens door to Aycliffe Show bid after circus is approved
Home
News

Council opens door to Aycliffe Show bid after circus is approved

February 6th, 2019 Martin Walker News 0 comments 2125

top banner

Great Aycliffe Town Council appears to have opened the door to a renewed Aycliffe Show bid after apparently relaxing their stance on strict rules around events.

Councillors have given the go-ahead to a four-day circus on land at the Sports Complex in May this year – despite the application being incomplete.

Resident Russ Gibson’s attempt to rekindle the Great Aycliffe Show were thrown out a year ago, when council officers cited inexperience and an “incompetent application”.

Back then, a report to councillors was made up of some 44 pages, which included a detailed site risk assessment carried out by an experienced events company working on behalf of Mr Gibson.

Mr Gibson was told rent and bond for use of the land would potentially run into “thousands”, and that he lacked events experience.

Indeed, council leader Bob Fleming was quoted at the time as saying “a considerable bond would be needed”.

However, despite the council’s strict stance with that process, the local authority now seems to have relaxed the requirements needed for a suitable application.

This time, a report compiled by officers – made up of just four pages and an almost ineligible diagram – has been rubber-stamped by the events sub-committee. It has also been approved by the recreation committee and full council.

This is despite the paperwork being incomplete and no specific site risk assessment being carried out by the proposed operator, Gateshead-based Tony Hopkins Entertainment Ltd.

Furthermore, the council has agreed to a bond of just £100 and rent of £300 for use of the land for the circus, which is due to run from May 9-12 – not quite the “considerable amount” quoted by Cllr Fleming last year.

The minutes of the events sub-committee, held on January 9, said the circus would be permitted to use the land behind the Oakleaf Sports Complex “subject to relevant paperwork and payment being received prior to their attendance”.

Aycliffe Today asked town council clerk Andrew Bailey why the application appeared to fly in the face of the decision made against Mr Gibson’s application exactly a year ago.

He said: “The application form made reference to the risk assessments and other documents which were received under separate cover to the council.

“This included an extremely comprehensive event management plan for the operation of the circus and “Big Top” where the entertainment is taking place. This dealt with every single aspect of the “Big Top” operations.

“We now require only a site specific risk assessment for the use of the land for parking to clarify the sketch plan sent.”

When pressed further on why it appeared the council’s policies and processes had changed, Bailey responded: “Each application is considered on its own merits by the Events Sub Committee and I am unable to add any further comment.”

Mr Gibson says he’s “hugely disappointed” by the decision and is “considering” weighing up a new bid for the Great Aycliffe Show.

 

top banner

Share it!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Newton Aycliffe FC manager Peter Stromsoy talks to Aycliffe Today
Previous article AT Business: January-February 2019

Related News

Young people encouraged to share views on crime News
July 24th, 2025

Young people encouraged to share views on crime

Measures to control HMOs to be considered News
July 22nd, 2025

Measures to control HMOs to be considered

£1m funding to target local crime hotspots News
July 7th, 2025

£1m funding to target local crime hotspots

LATEST VIDEO

This week on A.T

Aug 7th 7:06 PM
Community

PCP chief executive named finalist for prestigious North East charity award

Aug 5th 3:23 PM
Sport

League campaign returns for Aycliffe after summer changes

Aug 5th 9:16 AM
Community

Aycliffe charity leaf-ing a lasting impact on the environment

Aug 4th 1:53 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Aug 4th 9:22 AM
Business

Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth

Jul 24th 2:06 PM
News

Young people encouraged to share views on crime

Jul 23rd 8:25 AM
Business

You’re Hiyed! The CIC that’s breaking down job barriers

Jul 22nd 1:32 PM
News

Measures to control HMOs to be considered

Jul 22nd 12:58 PM
Sport

More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

Jul 21st 4:25 PM
Business

Getting Human Resources back to basics – with HR2day’s free audit offer

Recommend
Follow @AycliffeToday
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Community
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Back to top
© Aycliffe Today 2019. All rights reserved.
Developed by Thrive

Get our latest news direct to your inbox every Friday - subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.

Subscribe Now