Traveller site expansion approved amid pitch ‘shortfall’ despite local concerns

The parish council said the village has already made a ‘substantial contribution’ but council officers noted that there was a ‘shortfall’ of available pitches in the district

Plans to enlarge a Traveller site near Wimblington have been approved despite fears they could ‘dominate’ nearby settled communities. The application sought to double the number of permitted caravans at an existing site off Horsemoor Road.

Three static and three touring caravans were previously allowed but with the latest proposal accepted this is now six of each. A stable block can also be turned into a day room, though Fenland District Council officers said “at least part” was already being used in this way before the application was decided.

Wimblington Parish Council objected to the proposal, as they said the village has already made “a substantial contribution” in terms of Traveller sites. The council noted three established sites along Hook Road and Horsemoor Road.

It also said transporting large static caravans has “severely damaged the narrow rural lanes” and left “deep ruts that damage vehicles”. They said expanding the site “would cause significant and unacceptable impacts on the local environment, infrastructure and community”.

The council officer’s report said that, if approved, the plans would mean Traveller development would exceed the number of conventional homes in the area. Though at odds with planning policy that such sites “should not dominate nearby settled communities”, officers said the benefits outweighed the harm.

They said a “shortfall of available pitches”, the “personal circumstances of the applicant”, and “additional benefits provided in the form of social inclusion, housing provision and reduced inequality” makes the plans acceptable.

They were put before Fenland District Council’s planning committee last Wednesday (April 29) for a final decision. A confidential document was also considered by the committee who chose not to debate it.

Cllr Ian Benney said the application is “policy compliant” and that “travellers all need somewhere to live”. He said: “Travellers live their life and we should be supporting it – I see nothing wrong with this application and I will be supporting it”.

The committee unanimously approved the plans.