Discussions will be held with the fun fair operators about alternative venues after the Borough Council decided, on health and safety grounds, not to hold future fairs on the "Doughnut" car park at Holywell Cross in Chesterfield town centre.

Fairs have been held at the site during the early May and August Bank Holidays for over 20 years. The car park normally closes on the Thursday afternoon for the fair to set up and operate until Monday evening, with the car park being cleared and reopened during the Tuesday.

Fun fair rides are getting bigger and heavier and there are fears that the land underneath the car park - where there are old cellars packed with rubble - is not strong enough to support the rides, ensure their stability and have hundreds of people walking across it during the fair.

There are also potholes and, increasingly, other examples of damage caused by the fairs to the hard surface of the car park, which are potential safety hazards for customers.

The costs of geophysical surveys and work to improve the land would be prohibitive.

Council Leader, Cllr Ray Russell, said: "The fairs are great events for many local people. The Council does not want to spoil anyone's fun and wants to see them continuing.

"However, safety has to be our primary objective and the sheer size and weight of the rides nowadays means there are now too many risks attached to holding a fun fair at Holywell Cross. That's why we want to talk with the operator to find a better site."

Investigations will now progress into the possibility of using parks or other Council-owned land, not including town centre car parks, for fun fairs.