A PUBLIC meeting has been called because of concerns about the annual visit of travellers to Appleby Horse Fair.

Ravenstonedale Parish Council has invited the police and other interested parties to discuss what actions can be taken to avoid a repeat of damage suffered at Cote Moor Common last year.

Farmer Ernest Leach, who lives at The Street, Cote Moor, near Ravenstonedale, claimed that the travellers last year caused more than £1,000 worth of damage to his land and buildings.

Cumbria Police press officer Mike Smith said: "Mr Leach contacted us last year and alleged the travellers had knocked down walls, stolen slates from the ridge of his barn and took a bike which belonged to one of his two children.

"Mr Leach also said they used the barn as a lavatory and claimed that human excrement littered his land and there was soiled toilet tissue blowing in the wind."

Mr Leach told the Gazette: "I am greatly concerned that the same is going to happen again this year and that nothing will be done to prevent it.

It will be interesting to see if the police enforce the time limit on them."

The travellers are restricted to the time that they are allowed to spend on the common.

Eden District Council has a by-law banning caravans from the grazing land except for a ten-day period, starting two days before the fair and ending one day after it closes.

Andrew Yates, assistant director of environmental services at Eden District Council, said: "Farmers and other residents complained about damage to walls, gates, outbuildings and water supplies last year, in addition to loss of privacy, intimidation and use of the land as an open toilet.

The order means that travellers face fines of up to £200 if they are camped in caravans on Cote Moor outside the ten-day period".

Appleby police inspector Bob Bacon said: "The six day event at Appleby is "pretty good natured" on the whole with very few crimes being committed."

He confirmed that - along with Orton Scar - the main problems last year had been experienced at Cote Moor.

The public meeting will take place at the Ravenstonesdale Public Room, on February 6, at 7.30pm.