It’s a carnival washout!

Organisers Paul Davies and Samina Bibi Akhtar show just why they decided to postpone the event...

Deluge wrecks big weekend, but its back in August (weather permitting...)
HEAVY downpours on Thursday and Friday forced disappointed organisers to postpone the weekend’s two-day People’s Carnival.

They made the tough decision at 10am on Friday amid safety fears and concerns the popular event would be a washout for visitors and traders.

The deluge caused chaos across the borough as almost a month’s worth of rain fell in 24 hours.

Driving conditions were treacherous in Dobcross when the River Tame burst its banks shortly before 6pm on Friday flooding the basements of a number of houses. Houses in Shaw were threatened when a culvert burst its banks. and caravans had to be moved to higher ground in Greenfield.

The carnival was hit when parts of the park became waterlogged — and forecasters still predicted more rain.

Now they hope for a late summer for the new carnival dates ( August 18 and 19).

Event director Paul Davies, who met parks staff on Friday, said: “We knew there was going to be bad weather.

“We came down on Friday and had to make a decision: people where due to set up and we had food stalls coming.

“We are very disappointed, but we are glad we have got the contingency plan and everybody has co-operated.

It was the first time the carnival has been cancelled since returnng to Alexandra Park in 2006.


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