The English Winter Fair 2007 has been cancelled

The English Winter Fair 2007 has been cancelled because of the foot and mouth disease and bluetongue outbreaks in the south east of England.

The fair was formerly known as the National Primestock Show & Sale and was to be held at Stafford Showground on 17-18 November.

But the organisers said they had decided to take the responsible decision of cancelling this year’s event in the face of uncertainty on foot and mouth and growing concern over bluetongue disease.
 
Show chairman George Greaves said: “We have no doubt that as exhibitors we would like to see the show go ahead, but we have a larger responsibility to the UK livestock sector industry as a whole.

“That responsibility means we cannot do anything that could put exhibitors at risk,” Mr Greaves said.
 
“DEFRA has not been able to give a clear indication as to when shows will be allowed to recommence. We also do not want to see exhibitors, particularly those with pedigree cattle, stranded at the show should the current situation deteriorate.
 
“It has been a very difficult decision for committee members to take – many of them are livestock and trade exhibitors,” he said.

“We will, with immediate effect, be refunding all exhibitors’ entry fees, sponsors’ monies and trade stand fees to ease the financial burden the industry is experiencing.
 
“We can only hope and look forward to staging the inaugural English Winter Fair here at Stafford Showground next year scheduled for 15-16 November 2008,” he added.