THE location for an inflatable theme park in Dorset has changed following a dispute between the council and organisers.

South West’s Inflatable Theme Park service was due to host its first ever inflatable theme park in Fenners Field, Merley, on August 12 and 13.

However, theme park owner Luke Grimshaw has told the Daily Echo that he believes the Council were “blocking the event” from taking place. BCP Council said that “required documents” had not been provided.

Mr Grimshaw said: “We were so looking forward to hosting the park in Poole, only to be let down at the last minute.

“We’ve been trying to set up a Dorset event since January 2020 but have been passed from pillar to post by the Council. They suggested five sites to us around the area and then blocked out attempts each time. Sites in Hamworthy, Turlin Moor, Upton Country Park and then Fenners Field in Poole were all suggested and then all blocked.”

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “The size of the event increased substantially from the original application, and we had reservations about suitability of the site.

“The event organiser had not provided the council with required documents including appropriate safety certification and therefore the Council was not able to give permission for the event to take place.”

The inflatable park event will now take place at The Meadows, Julian’s Bridge in Wimborne on August 12, 13 and 14.

Mr Grimshaw said he was “very confident” that the event, which nearly 1,000 people have expressed interest in on social media, would take place.

Session times on each day are, 10am to 12pm, 12.30pm to 2.30pm and 3pm to 5pm. Booking is not required, and entry costs are £6 per child and £1 for adult entry. The event will also have an under 5’s inflatable area, with a smaller bouncy castle and soft play.

Food and drink will be available and the only other additional costs are the hook a duck attraction and trampolines. The event will operate with Covid guidelines in place.