Mud leaves vehicles stranded at Stow Fair

From the Gloucester Echo

MUD created havoc at Stow Horse Fair yesterday as thousands headed to the Gypsy gathering.

Heavy rain turned the Maugersbury Road field site into a quagmire, leaving vehicles stranded.

Police Inspector Brian Clifford described the event as looking like "The Somme".

The bad weather, which kept the usual number of visitors away, sparked a renewed plea for a gravel or stone path from field co-owner Walter Henry.

"It's the worst I've seen it and we're turning vehicles away," he said.

Path

"We need a gravel path down the middle of the field or down one side so vehicles can get in and out.

"We'd put it in and pay for it. Every park in the country has a road going through it - even the Queen's park."

Cotswold District Council has consistently refused planning permission for a permanent path as the field is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Vera Norwood, Stow resident and president of the National Gypsy Council for Education, Culture, Welfare and Civil Rights, said: "The Gypsies are concerned about fair goers' safety as there's been so much rain lately.

"A gravel path should have been allowed long ago.

"What is more natural than a path across a field?"