ARGUMENTS about the May Fair continue year by year. Undoubtedly it is a great inconvenience to residents of the old town, and it has in my experience become rather more intrusive in our 22 years, but most of us accept it, some enjoy it, and those who can, leave their homes for the six days. I support it, but understand those who do not.
For many residents, however, it is not the fair which presents the greatest threat to old Ludlow, but the pervasively increasing loudspeaker-fuelled commercialisation of the town centre. Events are organised year round, but especially in the summer, often by outside or business interests. The conventional argument goes that these help the town's economy. I sometimes wonder whose economy they really help. Perhaps the town's shops and stallholders should be asked?
Old Ludlow is unique because it escaped aggressive development during the last 200 years. It was saved by being a backwater. Within what remains of the town walls, perhaps 80% of street frontage is residential. It is a living town and its residents strive to keep it beautiful. But during the last 20 years, many would say its charm has been eroded.
This commercial pressure is new. Not so long ago the streets of Ludlow were quiet on summer evenings. Ludlow Castle, perhaps the main culprit in the evenings now that the Blue Boar is closed, had one event each year. This was the Ludlow Festival, whose outside activity was confined to a play each evening that was restricted to the inner bailey, so as not to disturb residents, and a final night concert and party in the outer bailey allegedly to reward the townspeople. This party was the only evening event when loudspeakers were allowed, and of course it was accepted and enjoyed as a special occasion. Other events came along, initially welcome, but gradually control was lost as they expanded and a sort of theme-park Ludlow began to develop. Loudspeaker amplifiers began to intrude at night as well as the day. Then one night the centre of the town went black because an event at the castle sucked up all our electricity.
Recently, in Dinham, after six days of the fair, we had three days' respite before a two-night beer festival in the castle. Neighbours tell me there was vomit outside their house the next morning.
Soon after we came to Ludlow Paul Johnson wrote an article in the Sunday Times entitled 'Is this the best town in England?' It was widely quoted at the time on national radio and was one of the reasons for Ludlow's increased popularity.
Is Ludlow the same town now? Would Paul Johnson write that article today? Perhaps we should think again about some of these issues bearing in mind the case of Hay-on-Wye; when its festivities became too big for the town, they had to move, in 2005, to fields outside.
JOHN MEADOWS
Dinham, Ludlow