Recap updates as large crowd turned up for 'cancelled' Wickham Horse Fair
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Wickham Horse Fair has been officially cancelled this year due to ‘current Covid restrictions’.
However despite the cancellation a number of people and horse boxes turned up in Wickham this morning.
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Hide AdROMANSE tweeted earlier: ‘Bridge Street & The Square from A334 Winchester Rd is CLOSED in BOTH DIRECTIONS due to crowd control.’
The road has now reopened, according to our reporter at the scene.
Pictures from Wickham this morning show large crowds and a number of horses in the village.
There was a strong police presence with 30 officers and dozens of vehicles in the area.
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We had a reporter down at the scene and they brought you all the updates throughout the morning and the afternoon.
Recap all our updates in our blog below.
You can subscribe here for unlimited access to our online coverage, including Pompey, for 27p a day.
Recap updates from Wickham Horse Fair
Key Events
- Wickham Horse Fair had been cancelled due to Covid restrictions
- Large crowds turned up including a number of horses
Statement from police
A Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman said: ‘The Wickham Horse Fair was cancelled earlier this year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
‘Together with our partners we are facilitating a symbolic event that can be safely managed within the space available, and in accordance with the current Health Protection Regulations.
‘We are aware that a number of people, along with vehicles and horses, have arrived outside of the pre-arranged symbolic event. Our officers are on scene and working with our partners to manage this.’
Wickham resident has never had ‘any trouble’ from the fair
Wickham resident Sarah Chamber has lived in the area since 2014 and says she has never had ‘any trouble’ caused by the fair, with her and her husband often bringing down their two young children to see the horses.
The 34-year-old said: ‘You have to respect the tradition. It could have gone ahead - we just needed more notice about any road closures. Normally we just plan to park elsewhere. But there is a mixture of views among people in the area.’
In previous years, the car park in the centre of Wickham Fair sees funfair rides and food stalls set up for fair attendees.
In 2019, attraction owners said they were concerned that the fair’s numbers were dwindling and they had chosen to bring fewer rides and stalls in recent years.
This year sees almost a dozen horse boxes in the car park, which remains open.
Video captures scale of police response to 'symbolic' Wickham Horse Fair gathering
A video shows the scale of the police presence in Wickham this morning.
The annual horse fair has been cancelled due to Covid restrictions.
However a large crowd and a number of horses have turned up in the village today.
A video recorded in Wickham shows a number of police officers at the scene.
Regular attendee feels police are containing them ‘out of spite’
Portsmouth resident Cindy Comben has been coming to the fair ‘since she was born’ sixty years ago.
She said it felt like the police were containing the attendees ‘out of spite’ because many here are from the Traveller community.
She said: ‘Everyone gets tarred with the same brush. What the police are doing is wrong. If an accident happens, it’s down to the council and the police.’
Arrival of a man on a white horse has ‘attracted a lot of attention'
The arrival of a man riding a large white horse along Fareham Road has attracted a lot of attention and caused part of the crowd to wander past the police line.
Resident says ‘it does feel a little tense’
Steph Franklin-Burns and Isaac Mount, both 26, moved a flat opposite the Fareham Road four months ago - and were surprised to see the large crowd outside their window.
Steph said: ‘We had no idea there was a fair here. There is a picture of a horse fair in our building - that now makes sense.’
Isaac says there is a sense of tension within the crowd: ‘It does feel a little tense. There’s something about the police being here.’
Steph added: ‘It’s a very large police presence. They should be given more space. I don’t mind that much the fair is going on - it’s interesting.’
‘We’re outside and not doing any harm.’
Charlotte, 29 from Paulsgrove, said it was the sense of tradition that had brought so many people out.
She said: ‘A lot of people worry if no one shows up, it gets shut down for good. We’ve missed so much lately. So to come out and enjoy something, even though we’re not supposed to be here, it’s nice. We’re outside and not doing any harm.’