A final decision has been made not to prosecute a land owner over an illegal caravan site associated with the controversial Watton Horse Sale. A full meeting of Breckland Council has rubberstamped the decision not to prosecute over what was agreed to be an illegal caravan site set up in May this year for people visiting Watton Horse Fair.

A final decision has been made not to prosecute a land owner over an illegal caravan site associated with the controversial Watton Horse Sale.

A full meeting of Breckland Council has rubberstamped the decision not to prosecute over what was agreed to be an illegal caravan site set up in May this year for people visiting Watton Horse Fair.

The decision was seen as controversial as it had been made clear the council had evidence to prosecute over the illegal site off Thetford Road in the town, set up for the twice-yearly fair.

But officers had argued making a prosecution would not be in the public interest.

Councillor Robin Goreham, who had been one of those in favour of a prosecution, admitted defeat and asked that any future horse sales are closely monitored by the council.

“We have been dealing with this for something like three years,” he said. “It has been looked in to in great depth and has been deemed inappropriate to take action.

“It is important any future fairs at Watton or elsewhere in the Breckland are very carefully monitored.”

The organiser of the sale has repeated claims he would not be holding the fair at the same site again.