Eastfield site for horse fair gipsies - COMMENT ON THIS STORY
SCARBOROUGH Council has revealed that the preferred site for travellers and gipsies visiting July's Seamer Horse Fair is in Eastfield.
The decision was taken behind closed doors earlier this week and council bosses remained tight lipped about the precise location.
It follows a reversal of the decision to opt for land at Stoney Haggs Road off the A64 – which caused a storm of protest from local residents and councillors.
Andy Skelton, the council's head of environmental services, said the land was to the north of High Eastfield Farm, in Middle Deepdale, between Eastfield and Oliver's Mount.
He said: "The council had identified land at Stoney Haggs, in Seamer, as a site for use by travellers coming at the time of Seamer Fair. A local farmer has now offered to make other land available."
The land is council-owned and leased to the farmer for agricultural use and the farmer will be negotiating with the council so that it can be used during July.
Mr Skelton said a planning application would be made for the change of use over the coming weeks and the council would also pursue an application for the Stoney Haggs site in case of unforeseen problems.
He said: "We've had discussions with the police and the county council and some local councillors from Seamer and Eastfield to get an agreement that the site could work.
"There was some doubt as to whether we could get on to the Stoney Haggs site by July so it has been decided to pursue the High Eastfield site. We will be seeking planning consent for both sites just in case."
David Jeffels, a county councillor for the Seamer and Crossgates area, said: "The news of this new alternative site will be warmly welcomed. Stoney Haggs Road was obviously totally unsuitable for many reasons, not least the potential considerable inconvenience to people living in the area, and road safety hazards.
"We are grateful to Martin Simpson for his support in making this land available at High Eastfield because it should provide the travellers with the facility they seek without affecting anyone because of the remoteness of the site."
Local authorities are required by law to produce a gipsy and traveller accommodation strategy and demonstrate that adequate provision is made for them.
A team inspected potential sites last year and others included The Dell in Seamer, Musham Bank and The Mere.
Travellers have gathered for years on a field between the Seamer Carr rubbish tip and Dunslow Road but that has been bought up for development. Last year they used a site at Musham Bank but it was flooded after torrential rain and would cost about 795,000 to level and drain the land to make it suitable.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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