Brigg Horse Fair

Horse fair has arrived

Sunday, 3 August 2003

As predicted here (see 'Brigg welcomes visitors'), the policy of attempting to cancel the 800 year old horse fair tradition by blocking Station Road has failed. The travelling community arrived yesterday (Saturday) and have set up a base for the fair on the Atherton Way industrial estate.

The fair will once again take place on the 5th of August 2003 on Atherton Way. There will be horses and stalls. It is - according to a spokeswoman for the travelling community - a chance for the travelling community to take a 'holiday' and meet other travellers. Brigg fair is one in a calendar of horse fairs which spans the country, and it is one which the travelling community is determined to keep alive despite the obstacles put in its way.

The official policy has achieved nothing: except to waste some more public money - our money - and raise the council tax yet further. One further question remains: is it legal to block Station Road? Particularly if the blockage is aimed at one ethnic group? This form of policing is treading on some very thin legal ice.