Campsite approved ahead of Appleby Horse Fair

Thousands of Gypsies and travellers visit Appleby every year

A dedicated campsite will help to accommodate thousands of Gypsies and travellers who flock to the Appleby Horse Fair every year.

Plans to host 80 to 100 caravans at Scrogg Bank Field in Sedbergh have been approved by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

The temporary site will host visitors to the world-famous fair for 21 days, according to proposals submitted by Westmorland and Furness Council.

A report from planning officers suggests a dedicated site could "reduce ad hoc camping".

For hundreds of years, Gypsies and travellers have visited Appleby every June for the largest gathering of its kind in Europe.

Planning documents say Scrogg Bank Field, which is about 1.45 hectares and 1.5km (0.93 miles) from Sedbergh's town centre, has been used as a temporary stopping-off point for the past decade.

The officers' report says: "The use of the site for the preceding years, together with the local representations, demonstrate the benefits of having a dedicated site to reduce ad hoc camping on highway verges.

“The location of the site is sustainable whilst also being sufficiently removed from residential properties to not have any direct effect on residential amenity.”

A management plan for the site says council and police officers will visit twice a day to check facilities and ensure safety.

A skip and black bags will be provided and council street cleaners will help to clear any left-over debris and waste within five days of travellers vacating the site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The field will also be locked before and after the approved 21-day period to prevent anyone arriving early or late.