Information for Gypsies and Travellers
We want to hear what you think about the way Appleby Fair 2010 is co-ordinated. Your comments will form part of the public evaluation process that the public agencies hold after the Horse Fair each year. Click here to complete a feedback form.
Read the MASCG Evaluation Reports for:
Plan your journey well to Appleby Fair 2010 using the availability of transit sites and temporary stopping places provided. This means planning to arrive in Cumbria from the 24 May 2010. Read more about when the temporary stopping places and transit sites open.
The main licensed sites for Appleby Fair will not open until 4am on Thursday 3 June 2010 and encampments in a 1.5 mile zone around Appleby will not be permitted ahead of this time.
In South Lakeland a new temporary stopping place is being provided at Scrogg Bank for 2010. Other local landowners are gauging the success of this new Temporary stopping place. If it is well used and respected it is anticipated that other fields may be made available for future Fairs.
Appleby Fair is one of the highlights of the year for Gypsies and Travellers and an opportunity to have some fun, see old friends and do some business. But the interests of local residents also need to be respected and the Multi Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group has been put in place to help things run smoothly and safely. There are Gypsy Traveller representatives on the multi agency group too.
The group has already introduced new conditions for the permitted caravan sites in the town, which will mean better facilities on the sites for you. Information on
the licensing scheme for caravan site.
As well as improving toilet facilities on the caravan sites, efforts are being made to improve the toilet facilities in the town.
Please do not come early to the Fair, places to stop en route
are limited and are needed by those who have no vehicular
transport. It is recognised that horse drawn bow tops and also
some horse dealers have to adopt a staged approach when
travelling to the Fair. In conjunction with local Parish
Council’s or local representatives and /or private landowners
arrangements have been put in place at some traditional,
temporary stopping places on the way to the Fair, such as
Melmerby, Cote Moor and Stainmore. Information on temporary stopping places en route to Appleby.
Please observe and respect the site rules displayed at these
stopping places.
Please do not arrive in Appleby itself before Fair week starts
on June 3rd. It is unreasonable to expect local residents of
Appleby to have to deal with the considerable disruption that
such a large influx of people inevitably causes for longer than
the week of the Fair. Early arrivals will be refused entry to
the campsites before Thursday June 3rd. There is plenty of room
to accommodate all caravans at the approved campsites, so there
is no need to arrive early.
Our main priority at the Fair is public safety, and to do this the control of traffic through the town needs to be carefully managed. The 120m stretch of road known as The Sands will be closed to traffic again this year between 9am and 5pm, with access limited to emergency vehicles only. A one-way system will be enforced in the town, with no waiting restrictions in the centre.
Horse Passports - Animal Health and Welfare Inspectors from Trading Standards
will be raising awareness of the Horse Passport Regulations during this year's
Fair. With very few exceptions horses at or on their way to Appleby must be
accompanied by their passport, and new rules introduced from 1 July 2009 mean
that all foals born after that date, and any horses that have not previously
been issued with a passport, must also be micro-chipped.
If you sell a horse you must give the passport to the new owner at the time of sale. Any horse found straying at the Fair, or taken into possession by the police, will be difficult to return to its owner if they do not have a passport as this is definitive proof of ownership. A leaflet with advice about horse passports will be published soon on this website.
Please remember it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. Anyone responsible for an animal must take reasonable steps to make sure that its needs are met. This means that a person has to look after an animal’s welfare as well as ensure that it does not suffer. Animals can only be transported if they are fit for their intended journey, and the vehicle used is constructed in a way that will not cause injury or suffering.
Participants in the Fair may choose to enter the river to take
part in the traditional horse washing. This will expose them to
areas of deep water. Activity in the river is inherently
dangerous, particularly in deep water areas. Persons choosing to
enter the river are expected to recognise the dangers associated
with their activity and to take responsibility for their own
safety.
Please drink alcohol responsibly during Appleby Fair. Drunken anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and Police will take action against anyone who refuses to take responsibility for themselves. Cumbria Constabulary will respect the tradition of the Fair, but where offences are committed and are reported to them, they will deal with them appropriately. Alcohol licensing arrangements for Appleby Fair.
People living in Appleby are proud of their beautiful town, so
please respect them by helping to keep the town clean and tidy
during the Fair by placing rubbish in the bins provided or by
taking it home with you. Eden District Council provides a continuous clean up operation of Appleby town centre and the surrounding road side verges during the Fair’s duration. Street cleansing takes place daily
from 6am to 6pm by the Council’s contractor Enterprise using street cleansing teams and mechanical and mini sweepers.
The clean up of transit and caravan sites is the responsibility of the land owner.
We hope you enjoy your stay.
Images from the fair...
