Information on temporary stopping places en route to Appleby

Travelling to Appleby Fair 2011

After a Facebook campaign was launched in 2010 incorrectly stating that Appleby Fair is under threat, the public agencies who co-ordinate the event are allaying any misconceptions about travel arrangements for the Horse Fair.

Gypsies and Travellers attending this year’s Fair are being asked not to arrive in Cumbria before 23 May 2011 and to plan their journey using the transit sites and temporary stopping places provided. Read more about when the temporary stopping places and transit sites open.

Road traffic restrictions have been implemented in some areas as a direct result of public feedback. There were a number of significant incidents involving people travelling through South Cumbria to Appleby Fair in 2009. These restrictions only apply to areas where there were problems - they do not apply to all verges or temporary stopping places. There has been no attempt to stop people coming to Appleby Fair, the public agencies who co-ordinate the Fair are asking people to work together to make the Fair easier to manage.

The key facts about the road traffic restrictions are:

They do not restrict horses or horse drawn caravans

They only apply to verge side areas where there were significant problems in 2009

They apply to key areas only and not all verges and temporary stopping places

They apply to motor vehicles and caravans only

Plan your journey to Appleby and use and respect the temporary stopping places provided.

The full detail of the Road Traffic Order are contained in the Horse Fair Encampment Protocol. Click here to download the protocol.

The main licensed sites for Appleby Fair will not open until 4am on Thursday 2 June 2011 and any planned or organised encampments in a 1.5 mile zone around Fair Hill must have planning consent and a site license and will not be permitted ahead of this time.

In South Lakeland a new temporary stopping place was provided at Scrogg Bank for 2010 and will again be open for 2011. If it is well used and respected it is anticipated that other fields may be made available for future Fairs.

Please note: there is no longer a temporary stopping place at Stainmore.
A number of temporary stopping places provide short-term accommodation for those travelling to and from the Horse Fair.

These temporary sites will be regularly visited by representatives from both Cumbria Constabulary and either Eden or South Lakeland District Councils during the period of occupation.

Unlike the arrangements for licensing caravan sites in Appleby, at this time, it is not intended that these sites will be required to obtain planning permission or a site licence.

The need for regulatory control of these sites will be kept under review and if a site is considered to be unacceptable, appropriate action will be taken. Please note that certain locations along travelling routes to the Fair have Traffic Regulation Orders in place which prohibit roadside parking, these areas will be clearly signed.

It is an offence to contravene such Orders and action will be taken if parking occurs in contravention of the Order. This does not apply to horses or horse drawn caravans.

Please note that the use of these stopping places is subject to occupants abiding to the agreed terms of use displayed on the land, including dates of permitted use.

The Multi Agency Strategic Co-Ordinating Group has now adopted formal protocols on temporary stopping places and these protocols have been adopted by the CAT Team (Combined action team made up of Police and relevant district authority officers). To see full details click here. The CAT Team visits all encampments regularly in South Lakeland and Eden in the run up to the Fair.

For further details on temporary stopping places, please select a site below.

Temporary stopping places in South Lakeland

Information on travelling through Teesdale

Images from the fair...