New wooden fencing has been installed along the so-called 'flashing lane' at Appleby Fair so that pedestrians and visitors can remain safely behind a barrier while the tradition of horses being run and displayed along the lane north of the town continues.
Appleby Fair, which takes place starts this Thursday June 5th, is an annual event where Gypsy Travellers reside on Fair Hill north of the town and trade horses. The fencing has been made possible through an injection of £10,000 funding from Cumbria County Council's Eden Local Committee and has been backed by the Multi-Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group (MASCG) behind this year's fair.
A number of accidents have happened in previous years on the flashing lane on the Long Marton road. Small sections of permanent fencing have previously been installed to protect pedestrians, but the new works complete a permanent barrier between pedestrians and horses along the entire length of the lane.
Temporary barriers will still be used at either end of the flashing lane as well as in the town centre, but temporary barriers are not suitable for use along the side of the flashing lane itself due to the rough terrain and cost implications of making temporary barriers secure. However, now that the wooden barrier has been completed, it will keep people safe at future fairs. The fencing works are part of improved infrastructure for the Fair, funded by the partners on the MASCG, which will benefit the Fair this year and in the future.
Cllr Philip Chappelhow, Chair of Eden Local Committee, said:
"This new wooden fencing has been designed to make a centuries-old tradition safer for everybody. The Appleby Fair is not a licensed event and is not technically run by any organisation - it is something that just happens every year and people who go there do so at their own risk. But as tens of thousands of people attend the event, we felt it was an appropriate use of local committee funds to do all we can to make this tradition safer for everyone."
ENDS
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Notes
The Multi-Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group (MASCG) has been formed by the key public agencies who are involved in the Horse Fair each year, the agencies include:
•Eden District Council
•Cumbria County Council
•Cumbria Constabulary
•Cumbria Fire and Rescue
•RSPCA
•Environment Agency
•North West Ambulance Service
•Highways Agency
The MASCG is chaired by Eden District Council Chief Executive Kevin Douglas.