Bid to protect Gainford village green after Appleby Horse Fair migration

A public space protection order (PSPO) is to be sought for Gainford’s village green after it became an encampment during the Appleby Horse Fair migration.

Gainford Parish Council called an extraordinary meeting in June to discuss the issue, which was attended by Barnard Castle Police and a representative of Raby Estates, which owns the land.

Reporting back on the meeting Cllr Sarah Hannan said feelings were high in the meeting and a lot of people had been distressed and inconvenienced by the encampment.

She added it had involved numerous caravans, motor vehicles, horse-drawn caravans and traps, and grazing horses on all parts of the green, including the banks.

Cllr Hannan said: “The police had received 28 complaints, but the villagers were concerned that there had been little action.

“A number of people had telephoned Raby, but the response had been that it takes weeks to get encampments moved and they would have moved on in a few days.”

She noted that most people wanted a barrier put around the green, but several wanted it to remain the same.

Police advised applying for a PSPO and if signs were put up indicating a planned activity on the green it would be easier to move people on, Cllr Hannan said.

She added: “The parish council discussed erecting metal pillars around the green but the material costs would be £90,000 before labour was added.

“The parish council resolved that a public space protection order would be sought from Durham County Council and £1,000 would be made available to purchase suitable signage around the green explaining the terms of the PSPO and to demonstrate that the green was required for GainFest.

“There would be further liaison with the police who had agreed to attend GainFest and would be carrying out patrols to ensure that no campers returned.”