THIS year’s Barton Bash will go ahead after all, despite organisers cancelling it because they were ‘buried by paperwork’.

The estate’s annual fun day, which last year attracted more than 2,000 people, was due to be held on Saturday, July 9.

But the organising committee said filling in mountains of paperwork had put paid to the event, at the Neighbourhood Centre.

Now organising committee member Sue Holden has announced the event will go ahead in November instead.

She said: “There were lots and lots of forms to fill in and we just didn’t have the capacity to fill all these forms in time.

“Now we have set the date for November.

“It will be a bit unusual because we have never had the Bash during the winter before but we are really looking forward to it.”

The Barton Bash was launched six years ago to replace the estate’s annual carnival. This year’s was the first of three city events which fell foul of paperwork and funding problems.

Earlier this month, the Oxford Mail revealed the popular Leys Fair had to be cancelled because crucial funding deadlines were missed. And in July the Cowley Road Carnival took place in South Park for the second time in three years, after the cost of putting it on the road proved too much.

This year’s Barton Bash, which will be held on November 19, will combine the annual Barton therapy day, which usually takes place in September, with the usual mix of fun activities for children, food stalls and sporting demonstrations.

Mrs Holden said the Neighbourhood Centre will be split into three areas, with the whole top floor dedicated to therapies and treatments.

She said: “We will have lots of fun things for the children to do in the basement, some lovely food and activities, and an area dedicated to relaxation and beauty therapies.

“Events like this really help bring the community together and integrate everyone, so we are so glad we can now finally name the date."