THE prospect of Great Yarmouth carnival returning has moved a step closer.At a meeting at the town hall on Tuesday, a date was set - Sunday, July 29, 2009 - and a committee to run the carnival will be appointed later this month.

THE prospect of Great Yarmouth carnival returning has moved a step closer.

At a meeting at the town hall on Tuesday, a date was set - Sunday, July 29, 2009 - and a committee to run the carnival will be appointed later this month.

Taking on the role of chairman is former stage manager at the Britannia Pier Gerry Jarvis.

Mr Jarvis served as a borough councillor for many years and has been involved with Yarmouth in Bloom and Hospital Radio Yare.

Former hotelier Ted Lees, who has spearheaded the move to bring the festivities back, will be appointed company director and a number of local businesses and agency people at the meeting have agreed to become committee members.

Eighty-four-year-old grandfather Mr Lees told

the meeting he had written many letters and sent

e-mails in an effort to gain support.

Chairing the initial meeting, mayor Paul Garrod said: “I think it is a wonderful idea to get things moving again. We on the council will give as much support as possible.”

Malcolm Porter, who oversaw the last carnival in August 2005, said: “It's time for new blood and I will support all of the efforts by the committee. We must

also bring the carnival

up to modern day standards.”

Mr Lees added: “We know it will take about £6,000 to get things in motion but the payback will be the money that charities can raise from their floats.

“We are looking at various funding streams at the moment, but we also have to look at insurance and health and safety issues and these would have to be budgeted for.”

It is thought the route for any carnival would be from Nelson's Monument along Marine Parade past the Aquarium, left into Sandown Road an on to Beaconsfield.

A full committee will be voted in at a meeting on January 29.