Annual fun fair cancelled due to town centre work

An annual fair has been cancelled because of ongoing work in a town centre.

Long Eaton is undergoing a £10 million regeneration program, which began in June and is scheduled to be completed in spring 2027.

As a result, the three-day Chestnut Fair, held in the town centre since the 1990s, will not be able to take place this November, said Erewash Borough Council and street fair organisers Mellors Group.

In a joint statement, they said: "We know that this will be a disappointment for many people who enjoy the popular street fair every November, but rest assured that the Chestnut Fair will be back in Long Eaton next year."

The first Chestnut Fair took place in Long Eaton in 1994, but it was previously cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic and in 2021 due to a lack of space in the town centre.

The 2026 cancellation is due to the High Street and Tamworth Road remodelling project and relocation of the town's Market Place.

The work - funded through the government's Towns Deals - includes new paving and places for people to relax. Designs for the makeover include a nod to the town's history, including its furniture industry.

The council said the town's market will move back to its original home at Long Eaton Market Place.

Acclaimed artist Dame Laura Knight, who was born in the town, will have a trail dedicated to her as part of the work.

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