Plug pulled on Big Weekend after damage to the park (From The Bolton News)

Plug pulled on Big Weekend after damage to the park

9:50am Sunday 2nd September 2012 in News

BOLTON’S One Big Weekend show will not go ahead after last year’s event caused thousands of pounds of damage.

The event usually takes place in September, but last year the land at Leverhulme Park was damaged in the wet weather.

Large vehicles being brought on to the grass is thought to have caused the damage.

Bolton Council decided the land could not be used again, and organiser Kurt Hill, of Northwest Fun Fairs, has been unable to find another suitable location.

In previous years, the event has seen part of the park transformed into a beach, complete with sand, donkey rides, candy floss and seafood.

It has also seen huge fireworks displays, live bands, quad bikes, market stalls and owl and hawk displays.

Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars have also opened the event and crowds of 20,000 have flocked to it.

Mr Hill said: “We were waiting until it was dry to start promoting this year’s event.

“We have not been able to find another location, so unfortunately it cannot go ahead this year. We keep getting calls to the office asking about it, so we need to publicise that it won’t be happening.

“It is a shame, as we do not know what the weather will be like.

“We are not going to give up because we really want to stay in Bolton, so we hope to find a new venue as it is a great event.”

A council spokesman said: “Last year’s One Big Weekend event caused a considerable amount of damage to Leverhulme Park, due to the amount of rain in September and a number of heavy vehicles brought on to the grass.

“We therefore took the decision some months ago that the park was not a suitable site for this type of event at this time of year and informed Mr Hill and Northwest Fun Fairs of our decision.

“Mr Hill has paid a £2,000 deposit towards the cost of repairing last year’s damage, but it is likely to be considerably more than that.”