APPENDIX 9
Timing of Carnival
TIMING OF CARNIVAL – (CHIEF EXECUTIVE) - APPENDIX 9
To review and agree the timing of Carnival in 2013
Briefing from Janine Garner
Matters to consider:
1. Should Carnival 2013 take place on a Saturday or a Sunday?
2. Timing - during June or July?
BACKGROUND
On the 25th June 2012, Bishop’s Stortford Town Council received a petition from
Rosario Rospo, who runs the Flower Stall on market square, (universally known as
Ross).
The petition states, that due to loss of trade for local shops and market stalls on
Carnival Day, the undersigned propose that the Town Council change Carnival from
a Saturday to a Sunday.
The petition contained 67 signatures, representing 52 distinct trading organisations
and five members of the public, who are Rosario’s customers.(15 signatures were
duplicate organisations).
In addition the question has been raised as to whether Carnival should be moved to
July in view of the recent poor weather.
SATURDAY OR SUNDAY?
Conversations with Rosario Rospo
Conversations took place with Ross on Wednesday 27th June (by telephone) and
Thursday 5th July and Saturday 7th July in person, on market square.
During these conversations, Mr Rospo made the following comments:

On Carnival Day his stall took 50% less than a busy Saturday.

All Bishop’s Stortford events reduce his customer numbers. It is not just
Carnival, for example Caz fest reduces the number of customers making
purchases.

Footfall is very high on Carnival day; however visitors are not making
purchases.

Bad weather and sporting events also reduces his takings.
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APPENDIX 9
Timing of Carnival
We asked Mr Rospo if he or any of the other business operators, who had signed the
petition would be prepared to provide evidence of losses on Carnival day, buy
sharing figures for six Saturdays surrounding Carnival. We confirmed that this
information would remain confidential, all business operators that signed the petition
declined to provide this information. However, we did receive an email from Tilly
Andrews from EHDC on the 28th of June, providing verbal statements from a
number of traders declaring a drop in trade on Carnival Day.
Mr Rospo’s comments were echoed by other petition signatories.
Further to our conversations with Mr Rospo, we talked to other traders and groups
and individuals involved with Carnival. Here are other ad hoc comments made.

My takings are down on Carnival day, but new customers find me and come
back to buy from me another day. Source a market trader

The Town does not have enough Car Parking, to sustain large events, once
the car parks are full, shoppers go to other towns. Source Town Centre
Restaurant Manager

The yellow traffic signs, which are displayed around the town, to raise
awareness of the road closures, may as well say don’t shop in Bishop’s
Stortford today, why not go to Harlow! Source High Street Retailer

Carnival is a very important day to our fund raising team, 50% of our annual
fund raising comes from Carnival day. Source local Charity Fund Raiser

If Carnival was on a Sunday, we would not be able to participate; this
comment was made by a number of organisations. Source Church groups,
Schools, Service organisations.

If Carnival was on a Sunday, we would be able to provide dancers, however
our troop would be drastically depleted as many of our families are church
goers, or have other commitments on a Sunday. Source, three dance
schools.

If Carnival was on a Sunday, I would not be able to help, as I need a day to
recover, before returning to work on Monday. Source volunteer steward.

I am a supporter of Carnival, as I know lots of local groups that benefit from
the day, therefore, if the Council decide to keep it on a Saturday, I will support
it. Source Market Trader, who signed petition.

Sunday is now our second busiest trading day, so I would rather keep
Carnival on a Saturday as we now have established Sunday customers.
Source Major High Street Retailer.

This years Carnival, was “of the highest calibre”. It made me proud to be from
Bishops Stortford, and provided a low cost family event. Source resident
who wrote in to BSTC
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APPENDIX 9
Timing of Carnival

We recruit more members on Carnival Day than we do at any other
membership drive activities. Source service organisation

The Carnival Parade is fantastic, for one hour the Town Centre is given back
to the people of Bishop’s Stortford, fantastic! Source resident

This town is on its knees, we need more initiatives to bring people into town.
Source Market Trader.

Our takings take a slight dip for an hour on Carnival day, but we support
Carnival after all our customers benefit from Carnival. Source High Street
Retailer

The Market looked very dull on Carnival day, it would have been nice to see
stall holders decorating their stalls and interacting with the public, maybe even
offering Carnival day offers. Source local resident.

I thought the Carnival was well organised and provided plenty of
entertainment, especially for the young. Congratulations to all concerned.
Source local resident, sent to BSTC via email.

I think its great the town continues to have a carnival when many others have
ceased. A great way to spend a Saturday. Source Local Resident via email
to BSTC

I had a lovely time at the Carnival everyone I spoke to seemed to enjoy it, the
dancing was great and my children enjoyed the puppet show and the other
free entertainment in the main arena. Hope we are as lucky with the weather
next year; please announce which Saturday Carnival will be taking place on in
2013 soon, so I can get the date in my diary. Source Local Resident via
email to BSTC

The Town was very busy; however, visitors were not buying from me. Source
15 traders
JUNE OR JULY?
Clearly the British weather is unpredictable and recent summers have been
particularly so. It is dangerous to make decisions based on a small sample of very
variable data. To make the basis of any decision more firm the following show
average rainfall and temperature for the years 1959-2012 for the weather station at
Cambridge (nearest available):
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APPENDIX 9
Timing of Carnival
In summary, July is, on average 2C warmer than June and has 10% less rain than
June. Clearly therefore, on the basis of average weather alone, there is some
justification, albeit relatively mild, for switching Carnival to July.
Saturday dates to consider
Date to consider
Other known events,
taking place on this date.
Saturday 15th June
Our usual Carnival date
Saturday
22nd
June
Saturday 29th June
US open Golf
Buntingford Carnival
Children’s World Sworders
Field
Rugby World Cup
Saturday
6th
July
Wimbledon
Ware Carnival
Caz Fest
Saffron Walden Carnival
take place first week of
July, every three years the
next Carnival is due 2014.
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APPENDIX 9
Timing of Carnival
Saturday 13th July
Berden Fete
Saturday 20th July
Private School holidays
have started.
British Open Golf
Saturday 27th July
State school public
holidays have started.
NB: Re Summer School Holidays

Hertfordshire and Essex Private school holidays start on Friday 12th July
2013

Hertfordshire School Summer holidays start on Thursday 25th July 2013

Essex School Summer holidays start on Wednesday 24th July 2013
Sunday dates to consider
Date to consider
Other known events,
taking place on this date
th
Sunday 16 June
Sunday 23rd June
Hertford Carnival
th
Sunday 30 June
Sunday 7th July
Sunday 14th July
Sunday 21st July
Sunday 28th July
Implications of holding Carnival, on a Sunday.




Issues with Sworders Trust Deed (Herbert Sworder stated that the field was
not to be used on a Sunday for ‘games of any kind’
Staffing and service operator costs increasing.
Groups not taking part.
Volunteer stewards and staff unable or unhappy to assist on a Sunday.
Recommendation:
Bishop’s Stortford Carnival and Fun Day 2013 should take place on one of the following
dates:




Saturday15th June 2013
Sunday 16th June 2013
Saturday 13th July 2013
Sunday 14th July 2013
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