Farcet residents angry at Travellers’ camp site plan - Cambridgeshire

From the Peterborough Telegraph

Concern has been raised over an application to provide a space for Travellers to camp on land near a care home in Farcet.

Farcet Parish Council has objected to the proposal to create a Travellers’ site on land adjacent to Conquest House, in Straight Drove.

It comes after about 50 people turned out to a public meeting called by the parish council at Farcet Village Hall, in Main Street, at which concerned villagers spoke out about the plans.

The application, submitted to Huntingdon District Council, is for “two gypsy and Traveller sites with two caravans, an additional family room caravan and a facilities block for two extended gypsy families”.

Speaking to the PT, vice chairman of the parish council Chris York said councillors had agreed unanimously to oppose the application.

He said: “That was based not on the views of the councillors, but on the views of the people who attended the meeting.”

He said there was “a lot of ill-feeling” among residents with concerns about whether Farcet’s infrastructure could withstand further growth with the pressure being particularly keen on school places.

There was also worry about whether the site would disturb residents in the neighbouring care home, he said.

He said: “They are elderly people getting on in years. They are there in a care home for a reason.”

The applicant Ernie Head (58), of E And J Services, described the development as “very small scale” and stressed its occupants would have more responsibility for the land than at other sites.

He said: “It won’t be council-owned, it will be owned by the family who live there and that makes all the difference. I don’t think it’s going to cause a problem.”