I have lived in Basildon for 32 years and have always gone to see the carnival.

Is it just me, or has the carnival got worse over the years?

I remember when it was worth getting wet to stand and watch, now it’s all pointless.

There are many clubs and companies which could get involved and make it a great carnival, so why is no one pushing to involve other people to make it a carnival worth seeing?

How about contacting the Essex Kit Car Club and getting its members out? What about our local American Football team?

Did anyone even know we had one, the Essex Spartans?

Does it seem it’s now just a stale tradition which is put on because it has to be, not because anyone wants to do it?

So, people of Basildon, push the organisers now to make next year’s carnival one to remember before it gets forgotten.

I would love my children to want to see the carnival, but every time I have taken them they think I am mad, as it’s a waste of time.

Surely Basildon is better than this.

Surely we could organise a carnival like we used to have, or maybe it’s time to get someone else in charge of organising it, someone who cares about Basildon and our carnival, as at the moment it’s embarrassing.

Paula Watson
Nelson Road
Basildon