Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
UNCERTAIN
Boot fair’s future hangs in balance
The future of the popular Wincheap boot fair is hanging in the balance, council bosses admitted this week.
The long-running gathering of sellers at the park and ride site in Canterbury was suspended in March with the outbreak of Covid-19.
Concerns had already been raised in January that it was under threat, and now, the council has further signalled it could be ditched permanently. The authority says the fair cannot currently resume, despite the easing of lockdown restrictions, because the site is now occupied on Sundays.
It is being used for discounted 50p-a-day parking for shop workers to help boost the city’s economy, along with the two other park and ride sites.
While the current closure was prompted by the coronavirus lockdown and health and safety rules, its future is now dependent on the outcome of tendering negotiations with bus companies.
There has never been a Sunday service from the Wincheap site, which is why the boot fair has taken root.
But the new tender for park and ride services will include the prospect of running one from Wincheap on Sundays, meaning it could no longer host the boot fair.
Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “Longer term, our new park and ride contract will start in April 2021, the tender process having been delayed by coronavirus.
“As part of the process, we have asked bidders to provide a price that includes a Sunday service at all three park and ride sites, rather than just the current two.
“A final decision on this, and the future of the boot fair itself, will be taken when we know what prices have been submitted at the conclusion of tendering.”
The authority also says it is not currently viable to open the Wincheap terminal building, offering the necessary toilets and hand-washing facilities for the boot fair, for one day a week.
He added: “If there is another landowner who would like to host the boot fair, they should email david.harte@canterbury. gov.uk.”