A FAMILY-favourite fairground has closed for the last time after 20 years after struggling with the remote location.

Revellers were said to be “gutted” after Dingles Fairground Museum in Okehampton, Devon made the “difficult decision”.

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Owners of the much-loved attraction said they couldn’t see a future at the rural coastal site.

They first announced the planned closure in March this year, when the Fairground Heritage Trust said: “A large number of factors have combined to force the trustees to take this very difficult decision.

“Since the pandemic, it is increasingly clear that with a limited season, a remote site and a scattered, rural local population the site is not viable as a stand-alone single-product museum attraction.

“In addition, we have long-benefitted from favourable rents and, as our lease is due to expire shortly, that will inevitably lead to further cost increases.

“This, taken together with aforementioned reasons, we can see no viable path to continue to operate in Devon.”

Dingles closed for the last time this weekend and bid fans an emotional farewell on Facebook.

“The Fairground Museum (Dingles) has now closed for good. We would like to thank all our visitors and friends for your support over the past years,” they wrote.

“So many people have put their heart and soul into building the place up into what it has become over the past 20 years. We are gutted to be closing .

“We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved. Our wonderful, friendly team have enjoyed entertaining you, celebrating with you and helping you, our visitors of all ages have fun.

“The collection will move to a more central location, Statfold Country Park, Tamworth, Staffs. It will be housed in a purpose-built museum building, in a country park setting with nature trails.

“There is a choice of cafes, narrow gauge railway, soft play barn, retro roller disco, mini golf, free parking and caravan and motorhome facilities . An approx 3hr 15 min drive from Exeter, 3 hrs by Rail from Exeter direct to Tamworth. Statfold is 3 miles by bus.”

Most of the rides will be moved to Statfold Country Park near Tamworth.

The remaining will be relocated to a storage facility.

Staff shared a snap of them on the bumper cars and thanked visitors for “all their support over the years”.

“We will miss seeing you smile, hearing you laugh (and scream) and being part of making your happy memories,” they added.

People flocked to the comment section to praise the vintage fairground.

“Such a pity, but we wish you all the very best of luck for the future,” one wrote.

“Thank you so much for all the memories and joy you brought to me and my family when we visited. So many years we visited during the summer reliving the enjoyment the rides gave to so many on there travels,” another echoed.

“Such and amazing place a huge loss for Devon but thank you for all the fun and memories which will never be forgotten,” wrote a third.

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IT HAS been years since flights between Bristol Airport and New York operated, with only short and mid-haul routes flying from the travel hub.

The regional airport is popular with holidaymakers from the southwest of England and South Wales, with 13 airlines flying to
116 destinations.

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Continental Airlines, a defunct US airline, used to operate a direct service between Bristol Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport in America.

The route launched in 2005, marking the airport’s first ever non-stop transatlantic service from the southwest of England.

Served by Boeing 757-200s, the 172-seat aircraft made the journey between the two destinations in seven hours and 50 minutes.

Flights were popular with both business and leisure passengers, with more than 400,000 passengers using the route, according to Simple Flying.

Despite its popularity, the transatlantic service was scrapped in April 2010 after Continental Airlines suspended operations at both airports.

The recession and a rise in Air Passenger Duty in the UK were blamed for the route’s demise.

It’s been more than 14 years since a transatlantic route operated from Bristol Airport – and there are no firm plans to launch another service.

The possibility of more long-haul operations, including services to New York, was reported by Business Live back in 2021 – although nothing was actually announced.

Although the airport has yet to announce plans to introduce long-haul routes, a huge £400million expansion project is underway.

The regional airport is set to make huge changes over the next five years, including increasing the terminal size.

More restaurants and larger lounges will be part of the terminal expansion.

A larger baggage reclaim area, an immigration area and a covered walkway will also be fitted.

The news comes after a record number of people travelled through the airport, with the airport welcoming 10million passengers in a 12-month period for the first time ever.

Bristol Airport currently serves a wide range of destinations, including, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland
Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK.

Flights also operate from Bristol Airport to both Egypt and Tunisia.

And just last week, Edelweiss, a leading holiday airline in Switzerland, announced that it would be operating flights between Bristol Airport and Zurich from next year.

The new twice-weekly service is slated to launch in June 2025, with flights taking place every Monday and Friday.

Ryanair recently launched a route from Newcastle to Marrakech.  

Earlier this year, Jet2 confirmed that a new route will operate between Manchester Airport and Porto.

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AN attraction just like one in New York could soon open in a major UK city.

Birmingham could get it’s own High Line experience like the one in the US city.

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The New York attraction first opened in 2009, making use of a former train line.

It was transformed into a public attraction with gardens, artworks and walking trails.

And a similar one could open in Digbeth, making use of the disused Duddeston Viaduct.

Built 170 years ago, it had hoped to operate as a train line but track was never built.

The new plane would include the creation of two new bridges, forming a “linear sky park”.

Pedestrian walkways, play equipment, viewing platform and benches would be part of the attraction.

It would stretch from Adderley Street to Montague Street, alongside the Grand Union Canal.

A council report says: “The reinvention of the viaduct as a park for public access has been a driving factor from the first inception of the current proposals.

“There is an opportunity to create a vibrant public space that would be of benefit not only to the existing business and residential community but to the rest of the city centre, wider Birmingham and the West Midlands.”

Inspired by the buildings around, it also hopes to create a “new and exciting townscape” in Birmingham.

Manchester already has it’s own attraction like the New York’s High Line. 

The Castlefield Viaduct line which reopened last year transformed the 1862 viaduct outdoor space.

Created by the same engineers behind the Blackpool Tower, it is owned by National Trust.

Dubbed a green “sky garden” visitors can walk down the 330-metre garden.

What is the New York High Line like?

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The High Line is an elevated park built on an old railway track, owned by the City of New York

The first part opened in 2009, and was completed in 2014.

Stretching 1.5 miles long, it is free to visit.

Along the way are pathways with greenery and art to explore.

It is also worth visiting at sunset for amazing views of the city.

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Plans to extend the High Line were announced back in 2021.

Birkenhead in Wirral could also get a New York style park as part of a £51million town renovation.

An abandoned railway line could be turned into a £15million park also like the High Line.

Said to be one of the oldest stretches of track in the world, it closed in the 1990s but could become a a “world class” park.

A city in the UK is even compared to New York, and used to film huge Hollywood blockbusters.

Liverpool’s red brick buildings and skyscrapers have been used to film everything from Captain America and Batman to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Still want to visit Birmingham? The Sun’s Hope Brotherton explains why tourists should stop overlooking the city for a staycation.

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