RESIDENTS of a rural community are celebrating after plans to create a short-term stop-over site for gipsies in their village were shelved following a public outcry, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

South Lakeland District Council had planned to provide a three-week stop-off site for Appleby Fair-bound travellers on two fields near Devil's Bridge in Kirkby Lonsdale.

But this week the authority made a swift U-turn after locals made their feelings known during a packed-out and passionate public meeting at Casterton Village Hall.

SLDC's environmental protection manager Mark Richardson faced fighting talk on Monday when he was told he had better be able to "run like the wind" if the plans backfired and paved the way for a permanent gipsy encampment.

However, by Wednesday, the relieved residents, who claimed their rural idyll was turned upside down when they were allegedly abused, harassed and intimidated by some of the Eden-bound travellers, were celebrating.

"The feeling is we are very, very relieved," said Pippa Hall, chairman of Casterton Parish Council. "We are thrilled these plans have not gone ahead. There was enormous strong feeling against the project."

Coun Hall, who stressed the problem was not with the "true" Romany travellers but a minority of havoc-makers, added: "There were worries that the site could become a permanent encampment and the fear it would just spill into the loop road. There were worries about more antagonism, mess, abuse and problems in Kirkby Lonsdale shops and pubs."

Mr Richardson argued the plans, which would allow travellers to stop-off at the four-week site, would help to manage the gipsies by keeping them in one place. However, many residents disagreed.

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