A POPULAR carnival looks set to return to the streets of the Waterside after it ran out of steam in the 1990s.

Residents in Marchwood recently joined forces to resurrect the village fete, which used to be held in conjunction with the street procession.

At their first meeting members agreed to ambitious plans to revive the carnival at the same time.

The successful fete and carnival was staged for many years in Marchwood but eventually folded due to a lack of willing organisers.

Parish councillor Ron Vango-Fisher is leading the campaign to hold a fete next summer, which would be the first for seven years.

He said: "The first meeting was very positive and everyone was very enthusiastic.

Two main decisions were made. They want to resurrect the carnival in some shape or form, which I was quite surprised about because it is quite ambitious.

"It used to be very large with lorries and floats but the idea is to perhaps have a walking carnival with cars and trailers, like a procession. The other idea is that the group thinks they would like to have arena events, which would be new to the fete.

"This could include marching bands, dancing, gymnastics and children's fancy dress."

Organisers believe holding a fete would bring together the entire community, which is expanding at a rapid rate.

About ten people have now formed the Marchwood Fete Group and provisionally fixed the date for the next fete and carnival for Saturday, July 15 2006.

They hope to hold the event at Lloyds Recreation Ground in the heart of the village.

The group will now appeal to organisations including Marchwood Parish Council for grants to help fund the event.

The next meeting of the Marchwood Fete Group will be held on Wednesday, March 16 at 7.30pm at the village hall. Everybody is welcome to attend,

For more information about next year's fete plans, telephone Councillor Vango-Fisher on 023 8066 7095.