Boston council apologises over autumn fair damage to park

Residents took to social media to express their dismay at the state the park was left in

A council has apologised after being criticised for allowing an autumn fair to go ahead on sodden parkland.

Residents took to social media to express their dismay over the state of Boston's Central Park following the annual event.

Boston Borough Council said the fair, held from 22 to 29 October, had unfortunately coincided with Storm Babet.

It said the fair operating company would cover the costs of the damage.

Commenting on the mess, one resident said: "To be fair, you can't blame the fairground guys for all the heavy rain we had.

"However, this is going to cost the council thousands to put right."

Another wrote: "A wet, grass field, who would have thought?"

The council has reassured residents that the fair operating company would cover the costs of the damage

In response, council leader Anne Dorrian said: "I would like to apologise to all residents of Boston Borough for the damage done to our beautiful Central Park, and I promise that all measures will be taken to ensure its swift recovery."

"Unfortunately, the weather warnings were published as the fair was setting up," she said.

"Now that the fair has left, we are working with the fair operator, who has agreed to meet their contractual requirements to cover all costs and restore those areas of the park impacted by the weather conditions, as the ground dries out," she added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council said future autumn and winter events in the park would be reviewed as part of the planning for next year's events programme.