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Plea not to arrive too soon to Cumbria's Appleby Horse Fair

Plea not to arrive too soon to Cumbria's Appleby Horse Fair

BBC News03-05-2025
Appleby Horse Fair attendees have been asked not to arrive too soon ahead of the annual event.Now in its 249th year, the fair will see thousands of Gypsies and travellers pitch up in Westmorland, Cumbria, between 5 and 11 June.Fairgoers who bring trailers too soon can cause difficulties in the surrounding areas, particularly as stopping places are very limited, the Appleby Horse Fair Multi-Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group (MASCG) said.MASCG Gypsy and traveller representative Billy Welch said the number of temporary stopping places was falling year-on-year.
The event is one of the largest gatherings in Europe for Gypsies and travellers and is centred around showing and trading horses.Mr Welch said: "Whilst there are bow tops who obviously have no choice but to set off early, most people do have the choice."Please think carefully about your travel plans prior to setting off and stay far out from Appleby prior to the fair."MASCG is chaired by Westmorland and Furness Council with support from representatives of the Gypsy and traveller community, Cumbria Police, the RSPCA, the Environment Agency and other agencies.Cumbria Police also warned that it would "not hesitate" to take action against dangerous driving behaviour and vehicles that were not roadworthy, including towing away vehicles.Det Supt Dan St Quintin, of Cumbria Police, said: "I make no apologies for this approach which we adopted last year and which helped contribute to one of the safest fairs in recent years for road safety."
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Travellers ride horses through river as hundreds descend on tiny village for Britain's biggest pony & trap drive
Travellers ride horses through river as hundreds descend on tiny village for Britain's biggest pony & trap drive

Scottish Sun

time10-08-2025

  • Scottish Sun

Travellers ride horses through river as hundreds descend on tiny village for Britain's biggest pony & trap drive

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TRAVELLERS were spotted riding horses through a river as hundreds descended on a tiny village for Britain's biggest pony and trap drive. Groups were seen in Brockenhurst - one of the New Forest's top beauty spots - as they plunged their horses and carts into a river as families, who were soaking up sunshine on the bank, watched on. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Hundreds of Travellers were seen taking their horses into the river at Brockenhurst in the New Forest Credit: Vagner Vidal 6 The groups rode their horses through the murky waters during the hot summer weather on Sunday Credit: Vagner Vidal 6 Families watched on as Travellers descended on the town on horseback Credit: Vagner Vidal Young guys riding bareback charged in formation up and down the river as part of a tradition to cool their horses after a pony and trap drive through the Forest. It was the dramatic finale of the Tracy Cooper New Forest Drive, the biggest of its kind in the UK, which has been going for over 20 years. Yesterday's cool down came after temperatures hit sizzling point, with some unhappy locals saying the ponies should not be out in such heat. Animal welfare officers were present on the riverbank at the Balmer Lawn in Brockenhurst where scenes resembled the world-famous Appleby Horse Fair. At one stage, one officer shouted at two young riders to 'stop with the whip', adding: 'Stop whipping the horse' when they tried to urge their horse on with one. Riders were also prevented from riding the animals up and down roads with police waving them down and telling them to go back to the river bank. The car park at the popular family bathing spot had been closed off from Saturday evening and all day Sunday with warnings that an event would be taking place there today. But the sudden appearance of hundreds of pony and traps – their numbers three times bigger than the previous day – at the site took some unsuspecting families by surprise. Some goggle-eyed guests from the nearby Balmer Lawn Hotel who had been enjoying a post-Sunday lunch stroll beat a hasty retreat as the horses descended. Despite this, there were excited shouts from children as the riders roared into the river with water being splashed everywhere. Travellers ride horses through river & speed along in carriages at Appleby fair Young girls joined in the ride, with some getting soaked to their skin and even babies were taken for a trot – sitting in front of a parent on the horse. Kids as young as five plummeted off the river bank on ponies into the water – laughing gleefully as they did. After the horses had had a swim, they were put into shade under trees and given food and water. The river cooldown is the finale of the event, which this year took place under the watchful eye of a temporary security tower bristling with CCTV and dozens of police officers. 6 Horses and carts were spotted around the area today Credit: Vagner Vidal 6 Groups of Travellers were seen dipping their horses and carts in the cool water Credit: Vagner Vidal 6 Large groups of families watched on as the cooldown occured Credit: Vagner Vidal Last year, the area was scattered with broken glass and metal screws by angry locals who have called for the drive to be banned. As The Sun revealed yesterday, this year the local council has joined forces with Hampshire Police and Forestry England to ensure the event was kept under control. Standing watching the cooldown was Inspector Darren Ord of Hampshire Police who said he was pleased with how the drive had gone, saying: 'We have engaged with the community to ensure that everything is done with safety and security. 'So far it has gone very successfully. It was important to allow the event to go ahead while also ensuring the safety of the local community.' He said it had also been important that the welfare of the horses involved in the drive was looked after, which appeared to be the case. As the horses dried off, the travellers tucked into burgers from a van operated by Tracy Cooper who said she was 'absolutely delighted' with how her event had gone this year. She said: 'Mine is the only traveller drive in England which has a permit, permission and public liability insurance. 'It is the only one in England that tries to do it the right way. This year has been fantastic, but I won't rest until the last traveller and pony has got home safely.'

Travellers took over our picturesque beauty spot with 30 caravans, dug HOLE to use as toilet & left piles of rubbish
Travellers took over our picturesque beauty spot with 30 caravans, dug HOLE to use as toilet & left piles of rubbish

Scottish Sun

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Travellers took over our picturesque beauty spot with 30 caravans, dug HOLE to use as toilet & left piles of rubbish

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'Free' seafront campsite with North Wales beach views leaves people incensed
'Free' seafront campsite with North Wales beach views leaves people incensed

North Wales Live

time29-07-2025

  • North Wales Live

'Free' seafront campsite with North Wales beach views leaves people incensed

Residents have been infuriated by the provision of a toilet for occupiers of an unauthorised campsite on Rhyl beachfront. Just yards away is a public toilet block that's closed until further notice. Some people worry the campsite will entice others to take advantage of the free facility during the summer holidays. Denbighshire Council said it was obliged to provide services in line with government guidance on Gypsy, Roma & Traveller encampments. Several tents, two caravans and a couple of cars have been spotted on a grassy area off Rhyl Promenade, by the town's Eisteddfod Standing Stones. It's understood they arrived late last week. The same area attracted similar encampments last summer, and another was moved on from the promenade last month. Nearby are the Old Golf Road Public Toilets, where signs warn camping is banned. 'The irony is not lost on me,' said one woman online. 'Toilets closed for everyone but temporary ones can be provided for a pop-up campsite.' The public toilets are currently shut for repairs. Along with others in the resort, the block has been earmarked for an 'upgrade' so that the previously free facility can be run unstaffed, with cashless payments. Rhyl Town Council is being asked to hike its council tax levy to pay for running costs, estimated at £12,211-a-year. Bins have also been provided for the campers. A regular visitor said it was 'not nice' for locals who must pay for similar services through their council taxes. On social media, some people complained about the situation. 'They never put a portaloo out for visitors,' noted one woman. Others worry the encampment will become a free-for-all. Tongue-in-cheek, a Prestatyn woman said: 'Think I will take my tent and dog there next week – saves money going to a campsite and (there's) a beach on your doorstep.' There was also plenty of support both for the campers and for the local authority. People living nearby said they'd had 'no issues at all' with the site's occupiers. One resident said the council had no option other than to provide basic services. A few people believe the 'live and let live' mantra should apply, others suggested the campsite was a more productive use of land that was otherwise little used. 'Fantastic to see people enjoying what otherwise a waste of space,' said one man. 'I hope the council are clever enough to charge £10 a night – just saying.' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Denbighshire Council confirmed it had visited the site. A spokesperson said: 'The council visited the occupiers of the site to perform a welfare check-in, which is in line with government legislation and guidance on unauthorised Gypsy, Roma & Traveller encampments.'

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