Campsite plans aim to end disruption for traveller fair

Residents of Crossgates, near Seamer, outside Scarborough, suffered from illegal camping in Centurion Way by gypsies attending the annual horse fair in Seamer, which will take place again on Thursday July 15. This year, a site is being provided for the visitors, on land just off the B1261 (to the north), between Seamer and Crossgates, on the outskirts of Scarborough.

The site will be open for travellers from 1pm, Monday July 5 and will close after the Horse Fair at 6pm on July 15. In previous years, some travellers have lingered long after the event.

Also starting on July 5 will be a 30mph speed limit on the B1261 between the Crossgates roundabout and the Seamer roundabout will start on July 5 and continue until the fair ends.

Council bosses have underlined that this year travellers will not be able to complain about a lack of on-site facilities, which will include a water supply via two standpipes on the western side of the field and a horse trough in the adjacent Dell.

There will also be portable toilets and two skips for refuse. Travellers will be charged 5 per night for staying on the site – far less than caravanners would pay to stay on a commercial camp site.

A council spokesman said: "Site managers will be on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week over the period that it is open. They are being tasked with, among other things, collecting the site fee, ensuring that the site is managed safely and minimising disturbance to residents.

"After the problems experienced in the area before, during and after last year's controversial event, the B1261 site was identified and planning permission granted for one year, which will allow the planning authority the opportunity to monitor and review the site before potentially permitting future usage."