The monthly Community Forum meeting, which usually deals with local anti-social behaviour issues, was last night transformed into a public meeting for residents to air their concerns about the horse fair rumoured to be visiting Blackhall over the Bank Holiday weekend (for background details see posts dated 31 July & 13 August 2013 and regular updates posted at the Resource Centre in Middle Street).
The meeting was very well attended by residents worried about the impact of such an event being held in Blackhall. In response to a query about communication with the public it was reported that the issue had been made public some weeks ago, as soon as police intelligence indicated that the horse fair may be coming to Blackhall. Update reports had been posted on this site since July and regular reports were posted outside the Resource Centre for public information. Staff at the Resource Centre, both county councillors and the local police had been fielding questions and queries from concerned businesses and residents for some weeks now, showing clearly that the information had filtered through the community as intended.
An update was given on measures taken recently to secure the former pit site (identified by police intelligence as the one favoured by event organisers to hold the horse fair), along with possible future measures to secure alternative sites in the village against illegal trespass if necessary. Once again it was reported that neither the police nor the council had given permission for this event to go ahead on any site in the village.
Whilst residents and businesses remain concerned about the unnecessary public cost associated with a horse fair coming to Blackhall, it is largely accepted that all reasonable steps have been taken to secure the identified site against an illegal gathering, and that the police are well prepared to deal with any disruption if the event does eventually go ahead in the village.
Update reports are to be posted at the Resource Centre over coming days in the event there are significant developments in this matter. The police office will also remain open all day, until midnight, from the middle of next week to deal with community concerns.
