Douglas Council’s application for permission to erect a circus tent on an annual basis in Noble’s Park has been approved by planners.

The council’s application (20/00038/B) was for the tent to be situated in the paddock area of the Grandstand, with parking for 309 cars, for up to 10 days a year in April .

The circus will be run by Gandeys Circus which has visited the island for many years .

In his report to planners, head of development management Steve Butler recommended approving the council’s application.

Mr Butler said: ’Although the proposal does not comply with the land use zoning, it provides an amenity for the town and is for a very limited duration. It is therefore not considered that any impact would be so significant as to warrant refusal.’

Approval for the tent has come with four conditions, namely that performances are limited to four days a year, only in April, and that the tent must only be erected for up to 10 days. Permission for the tent expires in May 2022.

These conditions were set down ’to avoid any conflict with TT/Festival of Motorcycling and to prevent unacceptable loss of use/access to open space’.

Mr Butler also stipulated that no performances can take place after 7pm Sunday to Wednesday or 10pm Thursday to Saturday ’to avoid unacceptable noise impact on local residents’.

Unfortunately, while permission has been granted for this year, Gandeys recently confirmed that due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the circus would not be coming to town. However, far from its future being up in the air, it is expected that the event will return to Noble’s Park once the current crisis is over.

Organiser Binky Beaumont told Isle of Man Newspapers ’we look forward to returning to the island in 2021’.