In July, a group of families who have been bringing a funfair to Jersey for many years arrived for the Battle of Flowers and La Fête de St Helier.
Previously the travelling families had been allowed to camp at the People’s Park. However, this year they were not and found other accommodation next to the Farm House Inn in St John after being given permission to stay there by Randalls Brewery.
Parishioners were unhappy with the camp and, at the time, St John Constable Chris Taylor expressed his concern that the families were camping in his parish and not in St Helier.
He has since sent a letter to St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, accusing him of putting him in an embarrassing position over the whole saga.
In the letter, which has been seen by the JEP, Mr Taylor accused Mr Crowcroft of refusing the families permission to stay in the People’s Park because he did not want to upset residents.
Within the letter he also raises concerns that the families were escorted to St John by the States police and that the field they camped in was not a registered campsite.
He also said the funfair families were an ‘innocent pawn in this unfortunate saga’, and praised their behaviour.
Further criticising Mr Crowcroft, Mr Taylor’s letter says: ‘The topic of illegal camping and sleeping in camper vans is highly sensitive at this present time, and so this was most irresponsible of you not to organise proper facilities for your guests.
‘This has been seriously embarrassing for myself as the Constable whose parish the show men were camped [in].
‘As Constables it is our duty to ensure the law is upheld, and in this case clearly you have put me in an unacceptably embarrassing position and you should know better.’
In response to the letter, Mr Crowcroft said that the parish had requested back in 2018 that the funfair find other suitable accommodation for their 2019 visit.
He said: ‘Local residents asked that the park was not used for accommodation during these visits. In 2018, the parish asked the fun fair organisers to arrange appropriate accommodation for future visits.
‘The parish remains committed to ensuring the People’s Park is available for recreational use for all, and to continue to offer the wide range of public events that take place on the park throughout the year.’
