From the Yorkshire Post
THOUSANDS of Travellers have descended on a North Yorkshire village for a week-long evangelical festival on the grounds of the ancestral home of the Duke of Norfolk.
Residents say they had no warning whatsoever of the Light and Life Gypsy Church convention at Carlton Towers, a 17th century stately home in the village of Carlton, near Selby, before trucks and caravans started arriving.
Police have been patrolling the streets, while residents have complained of gangs of youths marching through the village and disturbing houses.
James Smith, the licensee of the Foresters Arms, claimed he was forced to work extra shifts over the weekend guarding the toilets at the back of his pub and was subjected to verbal abuse.
Yesterday the front door of the business was closed following police advice.
Now he is calling on the historic venue to foot the bill for any costs incurred by the festival – including the extra police patrols that are scheduled to take place until it comes to an end on Friday.
“I was abused with the sort of language I have never heard in my life,” he said. “Especially from the young girls.
“I have never seen anything here on this scale before and the village did not know anything about it.
“On Sunday I worked six or
seven hours just to sit on the door.
“I had to shut the toilets three of four times, they were a total mess.
“This is affecting everybody’s life and the police have told us it will take four days to empty the site there are that many cars.
“I’m going to see the police
inspector in charge next week to make sure the bill for the event is paid by Carlton Towers and not the taxpayer. We did not know anything about this, we should not have to pay for it.”
Residents said the first vehicles started arriving on Friday, with travellers coming from across the country and as far away as
America and France.
It is expected at least 5,000 people are attending the festival, with hundreds of caravans parked on the Carlton Towers estate – which is home to Lord and Lady Gerald Fitzalan Howard and has been handed down through generations – for the duration of the event.
Coun Margaret Hulme, who lives in the village and represents the South Selby division on North Yorkshire County Council, said youths had been ringing on her electric gates on Sunday evening.
“They are not causing any criminal damage but they are intimidating people,” she said.
“They are also going into the neighbouring village of Snaith and the clerk of the parish council there said she had to close the offices because so many people were coming in and trying to use the toilets. Residents here are absolutely furious.”
The Yorkshire Post understands that on Sunday there were five individual calls to the police from concerned residents.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The force is aware of a gathering of the Gipsy Light and Life Church at Carlton Towers in Selby District.
“It is an organised private event which has attracted a large number of people.
“The organisers liaised with the force prior to the event which has been held previously in other
areas of the country without incident. Officers are present at the site, as they would be for any event of this size, and have not encountered any problems.
“Reassurance patrols will continue until the conclusion of the gathering on Friday.”
The events team at Carlton Towers were contacted yesterday by the Yorkshire Post, but were not available for comment.
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