MEASURES to ensure a smooth trip for those travelling to Appleby Horse Fair come into force this month.

The Teesdale Residents’ and Travellers Forum and the Barnard Castle Neighbourhood Policing team have met several times over the last year to plan for the event.

Up to 30,000 travellers from across the country visit the annual horse fair, in Cumbria, which takes place between Thursday, June 5 and Wednesday, June 11.

Several hundred visitors will pass through Teesdale en route, with some still using tradition horse-drawn caravans.

There are five authorised temporary areas of acceptance to minimise civil trespass, at Shaw Bank, in Barnard Castle, Wackerfield, Winston, Broomielaw and Guide Post corner, at Bowes, including waste removal and portaloos.

Target hardening schemes are in place at Stainton Grove, Startforth Bank, Winston, Beckside, in Staindrop, and Flaxfield, Demesnes and Bridgegate, in Barnard Castle.

The scheme in Bridgegate and Startforth Bank is protected by a special temporary road closure order, starting on May 27.

Inspector Kevin Tuck said: “Some residents accept travellers passing through the dale, but others have concerns about the potential for trespass and there can be feelings of unease about an influx of people passing through.

“For many the actual journey to the fair is as important as the event itself.

“The direction from central government is that a migratory lifestyle for all or part of the year is legitimate.

“We have to accept that there are limitations in the legislation surrounding civil trespass particularly for short term encampments.”

Measures have also been put in place to help reduce the possibility of accidents involving horse drawn vehicles, including dedicated patrols by Durham Police’s Road Policing Unit, A66 matrix board messages and the use of reflective chevron covers for the rear of bow top caravans.

For updates, visit Barnard Castle Neighbourhood Police Team’s Facebook page or visit facebook-com/pages/Appleby-Horse-Fair-the-biggest-in-Europe