The popular Valentine's Funfair on Gateshead's Team Valley is an annual highlight for many, bringing colour and much-needed cheer to February.
And, not having been able to go ahead during the past two years of the pandemic, its planned return for 2022 was set to prove a hit with those preparing to enjoy an outing with friends or a half-term treat with the kids - or even celebrate a romantic date.
The M&C Funfairs event had been advertised for a run at the Kingsway site which was actually due to start after Valentine's Day, on February 17, and continue daily until February 27, with a £1 entry fee.
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But, despite the signs for it being already installed on the Team Valley, it was announced on the event's Facebook page this week that the long-running tradition could not go ahead this February after all.
The post said the fair is being cancelled due to "loss of the land where we go" and because no suitable alternative site could be found, despite the hard work of everyone, involving Gateshead Council, local councillors and the Safety Advisory Group.
It added: "Therefore Valentine's Fun Fair 2022 is cancelled; we all know how much you were all looking forward to coming along and would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your support over the years".
The announcement ended: "We will be back in some form, somewhere in the future, but for now sorry."
The disappointment at the news was clear from responses on its Facebook page, with comments including: "aww man I’m gutted. Loved going to that one"; "It's a shame, they always got a good turn out"; "absolutely gutted"; "The kids (and adults loved this)" and "been going here for years now, and it's the most affordable funfair; my kids love it."
One wrote "was so looking forward to this"; another said "Sorry to hear this, the funfair was brilliant and something we looked forward to" while, in light of the time of year, one previous visitor to it noted: "Was always cold but always good".
There came several suggestions too of possible alternate sites but the fair replied: "sadly not, we need to be on hard standing at this time of the year".
It said it had looked everywhere within a 15-mile radius and also added: "The council could not have been more helpful, they have spent time over the last five days making phone calls, showing us potential sites, investigating private sites we found. Basically there is just nowhere on hard standing that is big enough."
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