FIFTY six years of tradition could come to an end if amusement park workers are evicted from their trailers.Since 1946 workers at Manning's Amusements, Felixstowe have lived behind the fun park in Sea Road, Felixstowe.

By Jo Macdonald

FIFTY six years of tradition could come to an end if amusement park workers are evicted from their trailers.

Workers at Manning's Amusements, Felixstowe have lived behind the fun park in Sea Road, Felixstowe since 1946.

But owner Charlie Manning has been told he will have to apply for a caravan park licence to let the five workers stay there.

"There's five staff round the back, and if the council were to strictly apply the restrictions they would have no home.

"I think one of the main restrictions - from what I can remember is you have got to have three metres clearance between each side of the caravan, but I have not got space to do it, if it's one of the conditions then there's no way they can live there.

"They're all happy where they are. It's something we have not had to come across before. We'll see what happens.

"We're still in contact with the council and I have got to decide what to do."

Mr Manning obtained planning permission to allow four trailers and a bus to remain at the back of the amusement park in Platters Road.

He had thought that would be enough but he has since received a letter from Suffolk Coastal district council asking him to fill in a form to get a caravan park licence.

Mr Manning said that since 1946 people have lived in trailers or caravans behind the park and that even his grandmother lived in one until she died.

Peter Kerridge, Suffolk Coastal's principal environmental health officer, said that Mr Manning had to apply for a licence, and that the application would then be assessed by various people including fire officers who have to see if health and safety conditions are being met.

These conditions include toilet facilities, an electricity supply and fire precaution measures such as the distance between each trailer.

Mr Manning said that the trailers did have toilet facilities and that they were connected to an electricity and water supply, they even have a laundry service.

But trailers generally have to be six metres apart from each other and those behind Mr Manning's amusement park are closer together than this recommendation.

Mr Kerridge said: "None of its a must, the six metres thing generally is in there as a fire requirement, the fire service maybe able to recommend a reduction in the spacing." Although he added that this was unusual.

It is an offence to ignore conditions set by the council and it could mean that the workers living in the trailers would be prevented from living there.