PREPARATIONS are being made across County Durham ahead of the travelling community's biggest annual event.

Gypsies and Travellers will be heading to this year’s Appleby Horse Fair, which runs from June 7 to June 13.

Durham County Council are opening their Temporary Stop Over Areas (TSOAs) in the Teesdale and South West Durham areas to accommodate those travelling to the event.

The nine designated TSOAs are located along the traditional travelling routes to Appleby: Westerton Layby, Gurney Valley, Tindale Park, Wackerfield layby, Winston corner, Broomielaw picnic area, Stainton, Shaw Bank and Guidepost Corner, Bowes.

They will be open between Friday, May 25 and Friday, June 22 while there is also a TSOA at Gurney Valley, Bishop Auckland, which is open throughout the summer.

Durham County Council’s Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Service (GRTS) will make sure facilities are provided at all TSOAs, including temporary toilet facilities, refuse collections and, in some cases, water supply for animals.

The TSOAs are provided in an attempt to discourage unauthorised camps.

Officers from the GRTS and council neighbourhood wardens will be making regular visits to the TSOAs, as well as visiting any unauthorised ones.

The TSOAs are part of a coordinated response from the South West Durham Business, Residents and Travellers Forum and the Teesdale Residents’ and Travellers’ Forum, which include representatives from the town and parish councils, Durham Constabulary, Durham County Council, local businesses and GRTS representatives.

Mike Taylor, chair of the Teesdale Residents and Travellers Forum, said: “The forum members have met several times since last year's Appleby Fair to look at and address any issues that arose during the migration period. This we hope will go towards a seamless passage through Teesdale for the Travellers going to and returning from the fair this year.”

Sergeant Simon Rogers, from Barnard Castle Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The police and our partners will be monitoring the migration through Teesdale and will be supporting our communities.

“Some residents accept the migration of Travellers through Teesdale at this time of the year but others have concerns about the potential for trespass and there can be feelings of unease from the settled community.

“In reality this is a diverse community happening and not a police public safety event.

“Our joined up approach means in recent years we have experienced a relatively small number of incidents directly related to the Travellers.”

Temporary signposts will be in place to show the locations of key TSOAs and to advise local residents and road users.

Fair organisers are encouraging those who plan on attending the event with trailers or towed caravans not to arrive at the site too far in advance of it starting, especially if they travel via Alston Moor as the availability of temporary stopping places there is reduced this year.

They’re also encouraging fair-goers to plan their journey carefully and to consult applebyfair.org for information about Temporary Stop Over Areas.

Ian Hoult, the council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “We are committed to working with our partners to provide TSOAs for Gypsies and Travellers which are equipped with a range of facilities that wouldn’t be provided at an unauthorised camp.

“We would encourage those making their way to Appleby Fair to use TSOAs as they travel through County Durham.”

Billy Welch, one of the organisers, said: “I would like to appeal to the Gypsies and Travellers not to arrive too soon at the designated camping area to give the council time to prepare for people heading towards the fair."

“I would also like to ask them to be careful where they choose to camp and to consider the dangers. Please avoid camping on any blind bends, on the brow of a hill or too close to main roads and on junctions. Be very wary of traffic especially where horses are concerned and please show consideration and patience for motorists and other road users. Please show consideration for local residents and for the area you are camping on.”

Gypsies and Travellers staying on the TSOAs will be able to speak to a specialist nurse in confidence about individual or family health matters.

Advice and support will be provided on how to stay healthy; immunisations; accessing NHS appointments; child development and parenting issues.

To speak to GRTS call 03000-261000.

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