BRADFORD Council says the gates on a park are to be secured again after an unpermitted horse fair took place at the weekend.
Caravans and horses first began to appear on Odsal Village Green, off Stadium Road, last Friday, in preparation for a two-day event across the weekend.
The Telegraph & Argus visited the area on Saturday and spotted a large number of caravans on the field, with horses also on show and people wandering round.
A horse and cart went up and down Cleckheaton Road at one point.
West Yorkshire Police said it had been made aware of the fair and local NPT officers were “monitoring the event”.
Bradford Council has now confirmed the fair took place without permission and padlocks for gates to the park have had to be replaced, as well as stones used to block access returned to their usual position.
But the local authority said those on the field cleared litter and waste before exiting.
A full statement from Bradford Council read: “This horse fair took place last weekend on land without permission, however, before leaving, the area was cleared of litter and waste.
“Replacement padlocks have been purchased and used to secure the gates again and the large stones used to block access will be moved back into place.
“Damage to the grass will repair naturally over the next few weeks.”
The T&A was at the park on Tuesday and part of the ground was badly churned up.
A member of the public who first spotted the group setting up on the field last Friday, and wished to remain anonymous, has been down to the park since.
She said: “It's not great, horse poo all over, and the grass is all torn up.
“I get that grass will grow back, but if this becomes a regular thing, then it won't.
“Some of the travellers did help clear the field with the council doing a once over after, but what about the horse poo?
“Would you let your kids play on a field covered in poo? As a dog walker we can get fined for not picking up after our dogs so why is it okay to leave horse poo?
“I get that a lot of people just look at it as just a field, but the residents around here like to keep the area nice, which is why it's so frustrating when this happens.
“Got nothing against travellers holding a horse fair as long as it's organised properly, without inconveniencing anyone else.
“The fact that they blocked Stadium Road, which is the only access road to the residents behind Q Gardens, is where the anger and frustration also comes in.”
A Facebook profile, by the name of Jr Price, posted a number of times in the weeks running up to the arrival of the group on the park, sharing details of the fair.
The first post on July 10 was accompanied with a video and said: "Boys there's the fair date... let's make this big. Everyone share."
Originally it was dated for August 3 and 4 but Jr Price said this was wrong and that it was actually taking place on July 27 and 28.
Saturday was "JR's fair day" and Sunday was titled as "Jr and Billy Lowther".
A post on July 11 said a postcode for the event would "be up in the next few days" and that there would be "plenty of room for everyone".
Last Monday, the postcode was shared as "Qgardens Bradford this Saturday BD61BJ".
The T&A has contacted Leeds GATE (Gypsy & Traveller Exchange) and Jr Price for comment but is yet to receive a response.
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