MR England asked a very important question about why the gipsies are not at Seamer (Evening News, May 7).
The council set up the Gipsies and Travellers Task Group on September 12 2007. Its members were drawn from the corporate strategy overview and scrutiny committee and comprised Cllr G Evans (chairman), Cllr B Simpson, Cllr J Dixon, Cllr T Lawn and Cll
r M Ward.
The task group's job was to look at sites in the southern area and to report to its parent committee corporate strategy OSC so that committee could forward recommendations to the cabinet. The recommendation was submitted to cabinet on March 18 2008 and was approved by cabinet. The site for the 2008 travellers' fair is Stoney Haggs Road, Seamer.
Cllr Haycock and Cllr Mallory called in the cabinet decision and it was sent back to its parent committee where the cabinet decision was upheld as Stoney Haggs Road for 2008. But, owing to the call in and the need for planning permission to be gained, as well as legal procedures to go through with the tenant farmer, the site would not have been ready in time for this year's Seamer Horse Fair, this is the only reason that it is being held at Eastfield this year.
I can state quite categorically that the three Eastfield ward councillors are not organising the new and unwanted Eastfield Horse Fair.
Cllr G Evans
Chairman
Travellers' task group
Eastfield Ward
The full article contains 247 words and appears in Scarborough Evening News newspaper.
