Chichester's Northgate car park to temporarily close for the annual Sloe Fair

The car park will close from 6am on Saturday 19 October 2024 and re-open at 12 noon on Tuesday 22 October 2024. During this time no vehicles will be able to use the car park.

Customers who have an X roving season ticket will still be able to park in the council's two other long stay car parks, Basin Road and the Cattle Market in the area beyond the mini roundabout. The council has been in contact with all season ticket holders to make them aware of this.

The event is organised by The Showman's Guild and is enjoyed by many people each year. It also has a long association with Chichester and can be traced back through history to the reign of King Henry I who passed a royal charter to enable the fair to take place.

"The Sloe Fair is one of the earliest recorded fairs in Chichester, dating back hundreds of years. It was granted by King Henry I to Ralph de Luffa, Bishop of Chichester and is believed to be named after the Sloe tree which grew in fields by Northgate on the original site," explains Councillor John Cross, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Place at Chichester District Council. "We have already advised season ticket holders of the temporary closure and alternative parking arrangements during this period, and we would like to thank the public in advance for their cooperation while the car park is closed." 

To find alternative car parks people can visit our Chichester District Council 'car parks' webpage.

Date of release: 7 October 2024

Reference: 4378