AN ANNUAL Meet fair will take over a market town's car park as usual next May, despite fears about health and safety.

Mr John Newsome applied to Teesdale District Council community services committee, on behalf of the Showmen's Guild, to stage the fair on the Galgate car park in Barnard Castle as usual during the spring bank holiday weekend, from May 24-29.

But Coun John Watson felt they should take stock before allowing the use of the car park because conditions changed every year. They had a reduction in the number of off-street parking spaces this year because of building on part of the long stay car park.

He was told by chairman, Coun Ken Coates, that he raised the same subject each year. Councillors had decided it was the safest place in town for the fair, but if he had something new to say, he should bring it up.

Coun Watson did not want to become involved in a fight with him across the chamber but they had never addressed the health and safety aspect of the car park and he wanted to move that for future years a complete review be undertaken. He felt the Demesnes was safe and the fair could be held there.

Legal officer Miss Susan Porter was aware of the reduction of parking in the town. But Mr Newsome had applied to use the Galgate car park and had stated that he would not use the Demesnes. Health and safety had been looked into, with officers doing spot checks each time the fair arrived.

Miss Porter said she could speak to Mr Newsome about councillors' concerns. He will have to pay a fee of £1,150 to hire the car park which, while closed, results in a loss of revenue for the council.

Yeo calls for ban

SHADOW agriculture minister, Mr Tim Yeo, has called for a ban on French beef imports amid fears of a BSE outbreak.

Mr Yeo yesterday told a meeting of County Durham farmers at Sedgefield that he found it extraordinary that other countries had not learned the lessons that Britain had learned so painfully five years ago.

"The overriding concern has to be the protection of the consumer," he added. "While I realise such a ban may have repercussions on other food producers, we can't afford the impact on other trades to come before consumers."