The presence of heavy vehicles on the lawns not only damages them but causes compaction of the soil beneath to the detriment of tree roots.

The Chapel Field Society is strongly opposed to these heritage gardens being used for all but the smallest of fairs, and will resist plans for the provision of more tarmac and hard standing to accommodate modern fairground equipment which is up to 40 tonnes.

The Norwich City Council is proposing to redesign these historic gardens. A landscape officer has been working on these plans for some months.

This move has arisen because the Council wants Chapelfield Gardens to be the permanent site for Fairs four times a year, but the showmans’ Guild say the lawns are too soft for the generators and the heavier rides.