Latest news with #GypsyTravellers
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MP calls for ‘chronic under-supply' of Gypsy and Traveller sites to be addressed
A Labour MP has called on the Government to address the 'chronic under-supply' of Gypsy and Traveller sites across England. Mary Kelly Foy said planning decisions on these sites 'have frequently been underpinned by prejudice', with just 30 created over the past 30 years. The MP for City of Durham tabled an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which proposes that Gypsy and Traveller sites are included in spatial development strategies. Speaking in the Commons, she said: 'Today I rise to speak to amendment 134, in my name, that works towards addressing a long-standing and deeply entrenched failure in our planning system, the chronic under-supply of Gypsy and Traveller sites across England. 'And my amendment seeks to increase fairness into the system to enable, rather than hinder, the provision of adequate, culturally appropriate accommodation for Gypsy and Traveller communities. 'For too long, the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers have been overlooked by the planning system.' She added: 'The Government has committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2029, if that ambition is to be truly inclusive, it must include everyone, and that means by making space, literally and politically, for communities who have been moved on, fenced off and forgotten.' Ms Foy said just 30 sites have been created over the past 30 years, adding: 'Decisions on Gypsy and Traveller sites have frequently been underpinned by prejudice, whether overt or institutional. 'Too often, proposed developments are blocked or delayed by local opposition that's not met with political will or leadership. 'Site delivery also suffers from a lack of inclusion at the strategic planning level, where Gypsy and Traveller site provision can be absent from local plans and excluded from land allocations. And this absence isn't an accident, it's a result of years of structural marginalisation that this Bill must now correct.' Ms Foy said the UK is 'seeing a troubling trend' with the number of socially rented pitches declining. She argued that leaving out Gypsy and Traveller sites from future strategies would be 'repeating mistakes of the past'.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Appleby Horse Fair: Rain and mud fail to dampen spirits
Thousands of people braved wet and muddy conditions to attend the Appleby Horse 10,000 people from the Gypsy and traveller community were expected to attend the annual gathering in Cumbria, along with with 30,000 Debbie Todd, from Consett in County Durham, said people were "really enjoying themselves" despite the soggy are some of her photographs. The Appleby Horse Fair is one of the biggest events in the Gypsy and traveller Todd said there was "loads of energy [and] people enjoying themselves". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- The Sun
Shops close down and streets patrolled by cops as thousands of travellers gear up for 2nd day of Appleby Horse Fair
THE historic Appleby Horse Fair has left shops and roads closed as a second day of rowdy celebrations continues. The Gypsy King, Tyson Fury, joined thousands of revellers yesterday for the first day of the fair. 8 8 The celebrations have seen thousands of travellers descend on the town, riding horses through the small streets. Cops have been spotted patrolling the streets and roads have been closed to traffic. Pictures from yesterday's celebrations show horses being ridden in the River Eden as part of a longstanding tradition. Tens of thousands of travellers have arrived in the small town for the event, lining the roads nearby with cars, vans and caravans. Campsites have been set up to accommodate all the visitors, quickly filling with hundreds of caravans. The six day event features traditional music, dancing, horse riding, market stalls and horses for sale. Carts and wagons have been pulled through the town by horses as the busy event continues to unfold. anti-social behaviour at past events. 8 8 8 The roads of the small town and surrounding area have been lined with travellers arriving to join the festivities. Today, as the celebrations continued locals have shut their shops and roads are being patrolled by cops. Signs have been left on doors up and down the busy high street reading " closed" with the whole town effectively shut down. A huge police presence is in the area for the second day in a row with officers on standby ahead of potential chaos and violence. RSPCA officers and Blue Cross volunteers are also present, keeping an eye on the welfare of the horses being exercised, bought and sold. During the 2021 event seven people were arrested. Travellers and their families have been descending on the town for the fair for 340 years. The event falls on the first weekend of June and is recognised as the largest of its kind in Europe. Huge queues have formed along the busy country lanes and town life has ground to a standstill as the fair continues. 8 8 8
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Tyson Fury among THOUSANDS of travellers at Appleby as horse fair kicks off TODAY – with locals locking down village
BOXER Tyson Fury has been spotted making his way to the historic Appleby Horse Fair as the annual event kicks off today. The Gypsy King, 36, will join tens of thousands of visitors who have flooded into the rural village of Appleby-in-Westmoorland, Cumbria, ahead of the festivities. 9 9 9 He was spotted travelling by horse-drawn cart through Knutsford, Cheshire, as he makes his way to the fair. Locals are bracing for chaos as hundreds of campervans and horse-drawn carriages descended upon their rural town for the annual event. Cumbria Police confirmed 30 people had already arrested in the general area as part of an operation ahead of the fair. The six-day event typically features traditional music, dancing, horse riding, market stalls and horse sales. Traffic in the area ground to a standstill as visitors from the gypsy, roma and travelling community lined the streets. Huge queues started forming along the roads as they waited to enter the campsites. Families and their horses normally descend from miles away to attend the 340-year-old fair. It falls on the first weekend of June and is recognised as the largest of its kind in Europe. Horsemen and women have been seen riding their horses in the nearby River Eden as part of a long-held tradition. The annual gathering dates back to 1685 and is under the protection of a charter granted by James II. 9 9 By the 1900s it had evolved into an event for Gypsies and Travellers. There remains a huge police presence in the area, with officers on standby ahead of potential chaos and violence. Narrow country lanes leading to the village have been bursting with horses and caravans in the build-up to the traveller meet-up. In 2020, the fair was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, but huge crowds have returned to the event in recent years. Seven people were arrested at the 2021 meet-up, but the chaos didn't dampen spirits for the hundreds at the historical celebration. Some locals have closed down their pubs and services in protest. Fed-up residents living in the neighbouring village of Gargrave even drew up battle plan in preparation. They have complained of a spike in crime and anti-social behaviour with human excrement found in bushes, trees hacked down and scorch marks found on the village greens. Last year, more than 60 pick-up trucks and horse-drawn caravans descended on the village, with loud generators running throughout the night. 9 9 9
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'Nothing keeps them at bay..' Furious locals turn their villages into FORTRESSES as thousands of travellers descend for controversial Appleby Horse Fair with police already being forced to handcuff a 10-year-old boy
Villages are being turned into fortresses ahead of Europe's biggest gypsy gathering - but this year the chaos has already begun. Weary locals are used to the disruption and disorder that accompanies the annual Appleby Horse Fair, but are bracing themselves for trouble as, in some areas, the influx of an anticipated 10,000 travellers has started early. A special police task force has so far dealt with offences of burglary, criminal damage, racist abuse, knife crime and faced a torrent of criticism after finding it necessary to handcuff a 10-year-old boy. The surge in crime around quaint Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria is causing anxiety amongst locals because the fair isn't even due to start until Thursday June 5th. So far local sporting venue, Kirkby Lonsdale Cricket club has seen its pavilion smashed up, as no windows remain in the wooden structure. Residents of the historic town have also been threatened and intimidated. There has been petty vandalism at a campsite and a knife waved during a confrontation between locals and traveller children. All the complaints have led the police to the makeshift camp in a layby at the town's Devil's Bridge where dozens of caravans have congregated ahead of the fair in Appleby, which is 40 miles away. A field has been handed over by the town for the gypsies to graze their horses as a safety measure to make sure they aren't causing a hazard tethered on roadside verges. Locals say they have never seen so many Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people descend on the town so early. And that may well be down to the successful clampdown in nearby Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria's Eden Valley. For years the town was the focus of the pre-fair gathering but in the recent past locals have fought back, closing down services and pubs and shutting off the places where travellers would usually set up camp. One Kirkby Lonsdale local told MailOnline: 'They seem to have descended on us this year and have come earlier and in bigger numbers than we have seen before. 'There have been problems caused by gypsy children in the town centre and closer to the camp they have set up in a layby.' And now the local cricket club, nestled in a picturesque setting, on the edge of the town has been left with no windows after the pavillion was smashed up. Cumbria Police say three 10-year-old boys - only just within the age of criminal responsibility - were arrested over the attack as part of the wider Appleby Fair policing operation. A cricket club spokesman raged against the 'mindless thuggery' and described the damage caused as 'heartbreaking.' The club posted on its social media channels: 'We have had serious vandalism and attempted vandalism at KLCC. 'So many people have worked hard to get the pavilion safe, and enjoyable for cricketers, Sedbergh School kids, our new ladies team, and all of our supporters. 'The clubhouse now just looks awful, with damage inside from a broken window from an attempt to break in, and now the boards we've had to put over all the windows. But travellers simply smashed down a fence and drove across the verge to occupy the site, leaving a trail of damage behind 'The stress this causes from absolute mindless thuggery, to no actual gain is heartbreaking for all involved. So if you do happen to be going past, and have a look at the eyesore of boarding, or see anyone trying to damage, please get in touch with us or the police. 'As always, we will come back from it, rebuild, and show strength as a club. Cumbria Police have been incredibly helpful, and have an investigation ongoing, hopefully we can find out who is causing us so much pain.' There were also problems at Woodclose Park caravan site where police investigated reports of criminal damage and the racial abuse of a security guard. It was reported that a group of traveller children had been abusive to staff and when asked to leave the park's reception set off fire extinguishers. A spokesman for the park said: 'The matter has been dealt with by the police.' In an earlier incident police detained and handcuffed two traveller children after a penknife was produced in front of a shocked local on a riverside path. The police action in the layby at Kirkby Lonsdale was captured on video by the boys' mother, showing one of her sons in tears tethered by the wrist to a policeman. The mum posted: 'Our boys were put in handcuffs on the basis of False allegations! Pure abuse of power and provoking behaviour! Bullying 10 year olds! 'You wouldn't see them doing this to anyone other community! And they wonder why our children are afraid of them, this could of been handled in a completely different manner!' A Cumbria Police spokesman said: 'Cumbria Police are aware of concerns being expressed on social media in response to the handcuffing and search of two boys at Kirkby Lonsdale. 'At around 11:30am on 22 May 2025 Cumbria Police received a call for service from a member of the public reporting a group of boys on the path by the River Lune one of whom threatened the caller with a penknife. 'Officers carried out a search in the area and located two boys based on the descriptions provided. 'Due to the report of a knife, the boys were handcuffed for their and officers safety while the searches were completed. A search was carried out and no knife located, and the handcuffs removed. Officers continue to engage with people in the area. 'Stop and search will be used as appropriate to ensure the safety of all communities as we work to ensure everyone has a safe Appleby Fair.' It is understood the family involved were asked to move on from Kirkby Lonsdale. An attempt by the town's business park to prevent travellers occupying their car park was made, with shipping containers placed at either end of the plot on the outskirts of the town, but ultimately failed. Travellers simply smashed down a fence and drove across the verge to occupy the site, leaving a trail of damage behind. Meanwhile nearby locals Kirkby Stephen is hoping the travelling will 'get the message' they're not welcome A local farmer said: 'You do everything you can to keep them at bay but they don't care, they'll take the law into their own hands and we have to clear it up when they're gone. 'Even if we hammered big posts into the ground to keep them out they'd just come along with a chainsaw, fell them and use the timber for firewood. 'I've had horses let into my fields of barley before. The horses got fed but the crop has been ruined.' At Devil's Bridge piles of rubbish and gas canisters were dumped at the roadside as some gypsies left to continue their journey towards Appleby. For the second year in a row every pub in Kirkby Stephen will close - some this weekend and some from Monday onwards - with only the community-owned sports and social club staying up to serve alcohol. Staves have been hammered deep into roadside verges with signs on making it clear that horses and caravans are not to park there. And if - as has happened in previous years - the staves are uprooted, deep trenches have been cut into the verges to make it impossible to park a caravan without the danger of tipping over. Railings along the high street have been covered by boards decorated with artwork by local kids so that horses can't be tied up along the busy A685 through the town. As one local put it: 'Kirkby Stephen is closed to travellers and we hope they're getting the message.' When it begins next week the event is expected to see 30,000 visitors roughly, 10,000 of them from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. In its 250 year history the fair has only been cancelled twice, the first in 2001 during the foot and mouth outbreak and the second in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. The gathering is billed as the biggest traditional gypsy fair in Europe and has developed traditions that take place every year. Gypsy horses are washed in the River Eden in Appleby and trotted up and down the 'flashing lane' - a closed off rural road - before being haggled over and bought. There is a market on Jimmy Winter's Field with stalls selling everything from fashion to horse-related wares. The fair is held outside the town of Appleby, at the point where the old Roman Road crosses Long Marton Road, on Gallows Hill, which was named after the public hangings that were once carried out there. It was once thought the fair originated from a royal charter to the borough of Appleby from King James II of England in 1685, although more recent research has found the charter was cancelled before it was ever enacted. The gathering is sometimes known as 'the New Fair' because Appleby's medieval borough fair, held at Whitsuntide, ceased in 1885. The 'New Fair' began in 1775 for sheep and cattle drovers and horse dealers to sell their stock. By the 1900s it had evolved into a major Gypsy/Traveller event which brought families from across the UK and Europe.
