Rose’s Bank Holiday Fun Fair is back on Lower Putney Common until 10 May, and most of Putney is fine with that. The signs are another matter.
The fair has been coming since at least the early 1990s, which makes it, in the view of many residents who have been around that long, part of the landscape: garish, but part of the bank holiday rhythm.
It runs on Lower Richmond Road, noon to 8pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, 4pm to 8pm on Fridays. Entry costs £5 per person and includes one free ride; additional rides run at £1.20 a token, three to five tokens each. Friday is wristband day: £20 for unlimited riding.
The board that disappeared in a day
This year, the ever-creeping colourful posters went too far for some residents when a large triangular advertising board appeared on the Common next to the Spencer Arms picnic benches. An invisible line was crossed, and the Rangers Office contacted. That same afternoon: “Thank you for letting us know. This now has been removed.”
The Common is managed by the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservancy, not the council. The Conservancy grants the fair permission to operate and collects a licence fee from it. Wandsworth Council’s role is limited to licensing matters if there is alcohol or music on site. Even then, this can be handled by officers without a committee hearing. The fair sits on Conservancy land.
The posters that won’t
The board went. The posters are a different conversation.
Every year, Rose’s posters appear across Putney, slid through the gap at the top of empty shopfront door frames and taped in place from inside, where they stay until the premises are accessed. Every empty shop – and there are a lot this year – gets treated to a colourful touch-up, whether it wants it or not.
For some it just part of the Bank Holiday background; for others, a professional irritation. The issue has been raised with the fair company and the Conservancy for years. They listen. The same thing happens the following spring.
Last year’s posters were still visible months later, fading into the woodwork before eventually making their way into bins.
What do you think? Have your say below.
To go: rosespleasureparks.digitickets.co.uk. To report flyposting: wandsworth.gov.uk/report. For concerns about the Common: rangersoffice@wpcc.org.uk.
