THE FATE of a horse fair of deep 'cultural significance' hangs in the balance after National Highways proposed an expansion of the A66 on land used by the Gypsy and Traveller communities for centuries.

National Highways' A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project plans, which links the A1 at Scotch Corner with the M6 at Penrith, runs through land at Brough Hill - the exact spot that has been used by the Gyspy community every year since 1385.

The original fair was held in the town of Brough from 1330 but in 1385 as the bubonic plague swept the country, it was moved onto the hill.

Spokesperson for the Gypsy and Traveller community, Billy Welch, said: "We've never missed it - there's never been a year where there's not been a caravan on a horse here. 

"We believe we're in the realm of our ancestors when we're here - to us, it's sacred," he said. 

The Brough Hill horse fair runs on the last weekend of September every year, meaning this weekend may just be the last year unless road plans are thwarted. 

National Highways has offered the Gypsy community a replacement site in a nearby field but the chosen site has been described as 'not fit for pigs'. 

"It's such a dangerous place it would be physically impossible to hold a horse fair there," Billy said. 

"We were willing to give it up and sacrifice the land if they found us a suitable alternative, but they won't do that.

"The land they are suggesting is not fit for pigs, but fit for Gypsies according to National Highways. We're being treated like nobodies."

The decision lies with the Secretary of State for Transport who will make the ruling later this year, however. 

This Sunday (October 1), Billy and campaigners will be hosting a protest in Brough against the proposal at 4pm. 

A spokesperson for National Highways said: "We’re committed to ensuring the Brough Hill Fair continues and we will continue to engage with the gypsy community to make sure the proposals are adequate for all. 

"We will continually assess potential impacts on communities – positive and negative - should development consent be granted," they said.