CIRENCESTER’S much-loved annual mop fair will not be taking place as revellers know it this year after organisers of the event and the town council failed to find an appropriate venue.

The town council have put the fair on ‘standby’ and temporary arrangements for this year’s event will see one children’s ride installed in the West Market Place in order to maintain the fair’s historic charter.

A town council statement read: “In light of the [Market Place] regeneration, the town council has worked closely with the Mop Fair operator to ensure the rights of this historic charter are maintained despite the non-availability of the Market Place this year.

Mayor of Cirencester, Mark Harris, said: “The Town Council is keen to preserve this historic event which is such an important date in Cirencester’s social calendar and is still greeted with eager anticipation by so many.

“The agreed reduction in size of the Mop Fair, for this year only, is the best way to ensure the charter is maintained and the town still has a Mop Fair”

The Mop Fair has been held annually for more than 650 years and this year’s heavily reduced event will take place on Monday, October 10 and 17.

The decision to reduce the event has come under heavy criticism from saddened residents who are dismayed that the council could not find an alternative venue to host the fair.

April Warriner, 25 from Cirencester, said: “I’m disappointed it’s not coming. I’ve been going since I was a child and I have a young son now who I would normally take.

“The event is nice for everybody, it always brings the residents of Cirencester together but one ride replacing it is disappointing, you can’t really call it a Mop can you?

“There’s lots of discussion on facebook, the council could have hosted it in the Abbey Grounds or at the rugby club but they’re obviously not willing to do that.

Last year’s Mop Fair was moved from the Forum Car Park, where it had been held since 1962, to the Market Place because the newly installed surface was not designed to cope with the weight of the fair’s vehicles and equipment.

It was a move that angered Market Place traders who were concerned about the possible negative impacts on trade caused by the event.

A full Mop Fair is expected to return next year although details of its location have not been announced yet.

Becky Coles, community services manager for Cirencester town council said: “We look forward to welcoming back the full Mop Fair in 2017 and planning has already begun.”