New arrangements for the use of Melmerby village green by gypsy travellers are to be put in place ahead of the Appleby Horse Fair on June 7-13.
The arrangements have been drawn up by representatives from the Parish, District and County Councils, as well as the police and representatives of the gypsy traveller community. Local residents in Melmerby have also been consulted after the size of the encampment on Melmerby village green has swelled significantly in recent years.
Melmerby village green has been a traditional stopping place for gypsy travellers on their way to and from Appleby Fair for many years. However last year over 100 caravans, often accompanied by two or more vehicles per caravan, camped on the village green prior to the fair and around 30 caravans remained on the green throughout the Fair week.
It has now been agreed that caravans should only be allowed to park on the May Day field area of the village green and will not be allowed to park there until Monday June 4 - the date agreed as the earliest acceptable arrival time for those wishing to camp in the village. Campers will be expected to travel on to Appleby by June 7. Toilet and water facilities will again be provided on the village green, from June 4-7, and the facilities will be replaced early the following week, for use by campers on their return journey from the Fair, and will be finally removed on Thursday June 14.
The strip of land between the A686 main road through Melmerby and the beck will be fenced off on the roadside by a number of short but sturdy, strategically placed posts, which will deny access to motorised vehicles. Part of this area, upstream of the footbridge, will remain accessible to horse-drawn bow tops, and the remainder of the fenced off area will be accessible for the grazing of horses.
To preserve the hay meadow area of the village green (the area of land on the far side of the beck away from the main road) no horses will be allowed to graze in this area. Last year, the meadow was grazed to such extent that villagers were unable to harvest the usual annual crop of hay. Enquiries are ongoing with local landowners to try to obtain alternative fields for horse grazing.
The mobile Police vehicle which was present the majority of the time during the 2006 encampment on the village green will again be present this year. In addition, daily visits will be made by the joint Police/Eden District Council Combined Agency Team (CAT).
The Parish Council has recently carried out a survey to gather the views of local residents on what they think of the annual influx. The general consensus is that a smaller encampment of shorter duration would be acceptable to the majority of the 58% who responded to the survey. A drop-in session will be organised by Ousby Parish Council and the Joint Agency Working Group, to be held later this month at Melmerby to provide further information and to answer any queries residents may have.
Cumbria Constabulary's Area Commander Andy Davidson said: "In drawing up these plans we have balanced the needs of the local community with the long-standing tradition of gypsy travellers stopping off in Melmerby. We believe this is an acceptable compromise for what risked becoming an unmanageable situation."
Sheila Orchard, Parish Clerk for Ousby Parish Council, said: "Melmerby is an attractive and undoubtedly very popular temporary stopping place for the travelling community. The beck provides a natural water supply and the green a much-needed grazing and resting place for horses. Traditional horse-drawn bow tops have been welcomed at Melmerby for generations, but we have recently seen the size of the traditional encampment growing beyond the level which local residents are willing and can be expected to tolerate. The message is that gypsy travellers are still welcome, but the numbers need to be reasonable."
Stuart Pate, Cumbria County Council's head of community, said: "In drawing up these plans, we have taken into consideration the views of both local residents and members of the gypsy traveller community. We were told that many of the people who have enjoyed their stay at Melmerby in the past were also concerned about the number of newcomers camped on the green."
Elaine Lomas, Principal Environmental Health Officer for Eden District Council, said: "This is the first time there's been a real joined-up approach from all the different agencies to come up with a workable solution. Hopefully it will bear dividends and both locals and gypsy travellers will have an enjoyable Fair."
Billy Welch, gypsy traveller spokesman, said: "The people of Melmerby have been very fair - and I wish more communities could sit down with us and talk through problems like this. It's clear they were overwhelmed last year, so these practical arrangements allow for up to 50 caravans, which is a far more practical number."
ENDS
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 606332