Appleby Fair exposes the public to "serious safety risks" and cannot be allowed to continue in an "uncontrolled and unacceptable" fashion, according to a new report about the future of Britain's largest horse fair.

Concerns about organisation, management and safety of the event, which attracts thousands of travellers, gypsy horse dealers and visitors to Appleby each year during the second week in June, will be outlined to Eden district councillors next week.

They will be asked to give their support to measures to improve public safety, and to consider issues such as temporary stopping places for travellers, and the continued use of unauthorised caravan sites.

"When viewed from a distance, the fair tends to be perceived with a certain amount of romanticism," explains director of technical services Steve Huddart in his report. "It is renowned nationally and internationally and is widely publicised as a tourist attraction. The fair does, however, attract growing numbers of people who bring in their wake problems of control, law enforcement and general management.

"As an event the fair has considerable potential for economic benefit for the area, but as an unmanaged event it is becoming increasingly uncomfortable for locals, visitors, those who have statutory enforcement responsibilities and also for the travellers themselves."

The horse fair has no formal controlling body, but the Appleby New Fair Joint Committee traditionally meets before and after the event for a review. The committee includes parish, town, district and county councillors, travellers' representatives, council officers, police, RSPCA and DEFRA.

The 2002 horse fair attracted so much hostility and criticism from villagers about lack of organisation particularly from Sandford residents, where more than 100 caravans set up camp that it was agreed the fair committee should try to secure improvements. Issues being explored include:

l The "urgent need" for management control, with an overall professional event manager being a "desirable" option. Another is to set up a partnership of landowners on whose property the fair takes place, with another body of police, councils and RSPCA to ensure all regulations are met. These ideas are to be discussed by the fair committee at a future meeting.

l The potential for serious injury is high, says the report, and the racing of horses and sulkies near the Rising Sun, on Long Marton Road, at more than 30mph, with several hundred spectators, gives the most grave concerns. It has been suggested a purpose-designed racing lane could be provided on private land at Clickham Farm. It would be the landowner's responsibility to get planning consent and public liability insurance cover.

l Appleby police are looking into the introduction of park and ride for the 2003 fair, to help ease "gridlock", particularly on the Sunday, when up to 30,000 vehicles come into Appleby, where there are only 2,500 parking spaces.

l Committee members have visited Cotemoor, Ravenstonedale, to discuss problems with the farmer who suffers most from damage caused by travellers setting up camp before the fair. Travellers have been known to force their way into a barn to use it as a toilet. The provision of toilets and a rubbish skip is being considered.

Eden District Council's environment committee meets next Thursday (January 9) to consider the way ahead for the fair, and how the council can help to improve issues of concern, particularly public safety.

January 3, 2003 10:00