Although we are not yet able to confirm it with absolute certainty, we
have had a clear indication from reliable sources at county hall which suggests
that the annual Horse Fair will not be held in Blackhall this
year. This information has also been published recently in the local press. We hope to be able to confirm this soon but we felt it was important to
update residents and businesses with the latest information available as soon as possible.
Please
note however that even though it is widely reported in the local press this information cannot yet be verified beyond doubt. We are not prepared to publish any definitive information until we receive confirmation of an alternative location for the horse fair.
As you will be aware we have lobbied hard over the past 12 months to
ensure that the horse fair would be relocated to a more suitable venue away
from our village. This lobby has included
written representations, contact with third parties and countless formal and
informal meetings with any individual or organisation prepared to listen to our concerns.
To support our position we recently submitted a written representation to the
county council setting out our opposition, for all the right reasons, to the horse fair being held again in
Blackhall. We used reasoned justification for our
position and this is set out below:
2014 Horse Fair:
Our argument for relocating future horse fair events away from
Blackhall:
We asked senior officers at Durham County Council to supply us with the
methodology and criteria they used in deciding which sites across the county
were judged as potentially suitable venues for a horse fair and those which
ought to be discounted as possible sites.
We measured these factors against the former pit site at Blackhall
Colliery, used in August 2013 for an unauthorised horse fair against the
wishes of both elected county council members, Monk Hesleden Parish Council,
most businesses in the village and the clear majority of the settled community.
In noting the criteria supplied by the council we believe that the council and its partners should identify alternative
sites for future horse fair events because the former pit site at Blackhall Colliery is unsafe and unsuitable for the following reasons:
· Access: access to the
site has been secured with reinforced gates and bollards at the expense of a
local business and with the explicit consent of DCC’s estates section. This was
done with the sole intention of deterring unauthorised access onto the site
(specifically the horse fair) at the request of both Blackhall county
councillors and MHPC on behalf of local businesses
· Proximity to the
settled community: despite police and DCC assertions to the contrary, the former pit site
is very close to the settled community and can only be accessed by using the
village’s main thoroughfare including the shopping centre and residential area
· Business confidence: the site is
adjacent to a busy industrial estate which also constitutes the only access to
the pit site. This undermines business confidence which is contrary to the
council’s first priority to promote business growth. We note that similar sites
elsewhere have been discounted as an option for a temporary stopover site for
the same reason
· Public safety: the site runs
immediately alongside the East Durham Coast rail line. There is constant danger
of trespass onto rail lines by children and animals and also of fly-tipping
onto the railway area. The event was opposed in 2013 by British Transport
Police for this reason and they have reiterated their objections this
year. Network Rail has also lodged its objection to the site
being used as a location for an event of this nature
· Ecology: the site is also
adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and within the
proximity of EU status nature conservation areas. The Durham Heritage
Coast Partnership has recorded its objections in particularly strong
terms
· Crime and disorder: there is evidence
of serious criminal activity directly linked to last year’s event
· Public opinion: the strength of
public opposition to this event is still evident in the area today. Post-event
PACT meetings in Blackhall in August and September 2013 were particularly
hostile. The police have never acknowledged this fact
· Disruption to local
events: the Horse Fair coincides with other long-running events organised by
the settled community and this has threatened their viability
· Loss of business
and residents’ amenity: the Welfare Park in Blackhall was closed for the
entire weekend last year because of trespass (including people on horses) and
other anti-social behaviour. Other local clubs and businesses also closed down
resulting in the loss of custom and much needed revenue. This was resented by
the settled community and local businesses alike
For the reasons identified above we feel that council officers and
police must rule out Blackhall as a suitable venue for future Horse Fair events.
Given the number and strength of formal objections submitted by external
organisations, local DCC members and the parish council we feel that if the
council were to give consent for an event of this nature, at this location, it
would be open to legal challenge and liability in the event of an associated or
related accident or incident.
