PLANS for a funfair at Branksome Recreation Ground were shared with ward councillors despite their complaints to the contrary.

Cllrs Marion Le Poidevin and Philip Eades were emailed on Monday afternoon by Poole Council’s recreation team to say that a funfair would be setting up on the field later that day.

They both said that this was the first they had heard of the event about which they had concerns following anti-social behaviour issues linked to previous funfairs, which resulted in them being banned.

However, Cllr John Rampton, the council’s environmental services portfolio holder, said that both had been involved consulted as part of the process last year.

“The council is a policy-driven organisation,” he said.

“An application was submitted last year and was decided on in line with that policy.

“Funfairs are very popular with the people of Poole and they are a very good revenue-earner for the council.”

An £8,400 rent charge issued by the council for the funfair equates to an estimated 10 per cent of the council’s annual income for events.

The funfair opens to the public on Friday and will run through until Sunday, June 17.

Cllr Rampton added: “Ward councillors were made aware of the application and could have brought it up for scrutiny had they raised any issues.”

An email, which has been seen by the Daily Echo, detailed events scheduled by the council to take place at Branksome Recreation Ground over 2018, including the funfair.

Cllr Eades said: “Neither me nor Cllr Le Poidevin were aware of having received any email and even if we had, that’s hardly consultation.”

Cllr Le Poidevin said that she did not remember receiving the email but added that even if she had it included very few details on the organisational details of the funfair.

“The email has no details on any security arrangements or management procedures, these are the sort of things which are important to us to be able to pass on to residents.

“What we want is to be included in the whole process for things like this.”