The company behind the TT funfair want to return this year.

Taylor’s Funfairs has applied for a licence to run it on Douglas Promenade.

The news comes after the government pulled back from supporting the attraction, which missed last year’s festival and which hasn’t been in the island since before the pandemic.

Taylor’s wants to operate from June 1 to June 11.

Earlier this year, the government said that it would not be supporting the return of the TT funfair.

Despite the government’s position, Tim Crookall MHK, the politician with responsibility for tourism and motorsport, said: ‘The organisers of the funfair may still apply directly for the appropriate permissions to bring their offering to the island through the appropriate government and local authority channels.’

The organisers of the funfair had made contact with the Department for Enterprise in November 2022, regarding its potential appearance for the 2023 TT.

Last month in the House of Keys, Enterprise Minister Lawrie Hooper said: ‘Having previously adopted a position ahead of the 2022 TT of no longer playing an active role in supporting the funfair, given it was not a core element, the department took the opportunity to review this position regarding 2023.’

He said that in January, the department advised the organisers that the government would not take an active role in supporting the funfair.

Mr Hooper also mentioned that the government had received information around the ‘pressure the funfair places on emergency and regulatory services’ and the impact congestion has on the walkways.

In January, Mr Crookall said: ‘I do appreciate that the potential of the funfair not returning to the island may be disappointing for some residents, but it’s important that as a department we continually review where best to invest our time and resource in-line with the over-arching Island Plan and the TT Strategic Plan.

‘Over the years, the department has supported various entertainment options during the Isle of Man TT Races, including the funfair.’

He added: ‘The department’s focus is on supporting entertainment that attracts visitors to attend the races and which doesn’t infringe on the wider infrastructure that is so integral to the successful delivery of the event’.

Treasury Minister Alex Allinson suggested that not having a funfair would help local businesses as people would spend money with them rather than at the funfair.

Last year, the noise of the funfair might have been problematic for the live music stage at 1886. But there is no plan this year for such an event there.

Individuals can submit objections to the application in writing to the office of the High Bailiff and to the local agent of Mr Jan De-Koning, the organiser of the funfair, at least seven days before the sitting of the Licensing Court on April 21.