Sandbach Transport Festival is flying high thanks to a funding boost two weeks before its return following the pandemic.
The festival, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday (23rd and 24th April) from 10am to 4pm, was awarded a £5,000 grant by the town council at its meeting last Wednesday.
It was the second time in two months that organisers have asked for town hall cash after a £12,000 grant was refused in February, on the grounds that insufficient information had been provided.
Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting, festival treasurer Martin Forster said: “We tried to hire a big old train to come but it would have cost us thousands of pounds, so we went with the Spitfire as it’s a cheaper option and has that wow factor.
“We’ve tried to cut costs as much as we could, but the festival has always tried to have something that has a bit of a wow factor to it.”
At the meeting, Coun Sam Corcoran supported the proposal and sympathised with festival bosses as he reminded his colleagues that it was created “at pace”.
Due to the pandemic, organisers only made the decision to go ahead with this year’s crowd-puller towards the end of January, which made planning more difficult.
The festival will be held across the town, at the Scotch Common car park, the Little Common car park, the cobbles and Sandbach Park, with multiple road closures in place.
On show at the festival, the first in two years, will be various vehicles from classic vintage cars to the latest designs in new cars.
A parade led by Roberts Bakery Band, of Northwich, will also feature from 1pm on Sunday.
Live entertainment can be enjoyed along with fairground rides, food and drink stalls with local produce on offer, and many more activities.
On the Saturday there will be road closures in place on the Commons between Well Bank and Congleton Road from 6am to 4pm; Market Square 6am to 4pm; Congleton Road between Offley Road and High Steet to Hightown Roundabout 10am to 4pm, and High Street between A533 Old Mill Road and Hightown to Congleton Road roundabout 7am to 4pm.
Road closures on the Sunday will on the Commons between Well Bank and Congleton Road 6am to 6pm; Market Square 6am to 6pm, Congleton Road between Offley Road and High Steet to Hightown roundabout 9am to 6.30pm; High Street between A533 Old Mill Road and Hightown to Congleton Road Roundabout 7am-5.30pm; with a one-way road closure on Congleton Road between A533 Old Mill Road and Offley Road from 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
Access to properties and businesses within the road closures will be maintained throughout the duration of the festival however vehicular access will be restricted.
For more information, email maforster1@aol.com or scott@hipswing.co.uk.
