Responding to a call for a referendum on a controversial event, a council has set a date for a public meeting.

The call was made by Appleby Fair Communities Group who object to the Appleby Horse Fair’s lack of an organiser and the use of public money to accommodate it.

They asked for a referendum to ask questions such as whether it should have an organiser and whether it should be tax-funded.

The group says it has been concerned about the town and surrounding villages during the fair, and said that 'locals feel they are being ignored by their councils'.

It's not clear at this stage how many locals' views are represented by the Appleby Fair Communities Group.

A spokesperson from Kirkby Stephen Town Council said it has to date received sixteen emails based on a template email addressed to Kirkby Stephen Town Council which was published on the Appleby Fair Communities Group Facebook page (posted on June 17).

They continued: “Of the sixteen emails received to date six senders have identified themselves as Kirkby Stephen electors, two do not use their address and the remainder are from outside the parish.

“Kirkby Stephen has an electorate of 1,460.”

The council said it has sought advice regarding the legal basis for a referendum or poll and will respond to parishioners who have written in due course.

The outcome of the polls would not be binding, they said.

The council will next meet on July 5 at 6:45pm at the Upper Eden Rugby Club.

The Chairman wishes to include a debriefing of the impact of the Appleby Fair on Kirkby Stephen in 2022 on the agenda that night.

Parishioners with concerns on this issue are welcome to exercise their right to attend council meetings in person and to make their views known.

A public meeting has been called to discuss the Appleby Horse Fair 2022 on July 7 at7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in the public hall.

Speakers include Les Clark (Eden District Council), chairman of the MultiAgency Strategic Co-ordinating Group for Appleby Horse Fair and superintendent Matthew Kennerley (Cumbria Police), Appleby Horse Fair Gold Command.

READ MORE: Group calls for 'referendum' on Appleby Horse Fair