10:56am Wednesday 9th June 2010
By Chris Yandell
COUNCIL chiefs have come under fire after delaying a decision on controversial plans to stage jousting tournaments in the New Forest National Park.
Objectors were furious after an application for a permanent licence to hold contests throughout the summer was adjourned at the last minute.
District councillors were told that the man behind the scheme, Geoff Winship, had suffered a serious head injury and was unable to attend.
But the decision to postpone the hearing for almost a month angered many of the 50 protesters, including those expecting to give evidence.
Applicant Medieval Jousting Ltd wants to use Black Knoll Barn in Rhinefield Road, Brockenhurst.
People living near the site say the proposal would result in too much noise and traffic.
The National Park Authority and the council’s own environmental health department object on similar grounds.
The council’s licensing subcommittee met yesterday to discuss the scheme. But the applicant’s barrister Louis Weston opened the debate by announcing that Mr Winship had been injured in an accident at his home last Friday.
He said everyone present would have to rely on “secondhand answers” from Mr Winship’s representatives if the hearing went ahead in his absence.
Mr Winship, of Christchurch, Dorset, already has a temporary licence to stage jousting at Black Knoll.
Tournaments were due to start on May 30 but were suspended after the council raised safety concerns that have since been addressed.
Mr Weston gave an assurance that no jousting would take place between now and July 6, when the sub-committee is due to reconvene.
However, the decision to adjourn the hearing was met with groans of despair from many of the objectors.
Brockenhurst councillor Maureen Holding said: “I feel it should have gone ahead. Mr Winship couldn’t have added anything to what we already know.”
Representatives from the National Park Authority said all their dealings had been with the site owner Alan Girling who was present at the meeting.
Mr Girling said: “I’m just sad that the scheme has aroused so much opposition, which has been fanned in a way that’s quite disappointing.”
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