Residents angry after boxer Ricky Crotty moves caravan and mobile home onto land near Wimpole Hall without planning permission - Cambridgeshire

From Cambridge News

A Traveller has caused upset after moving his mobile home onto rural land in a Cambridgeshire village.

Ricky Crotty moved his mobile home onto land owned by him near stately home Wimpole Hall just over two weeks ago.

The former Royston resident says he only wants to make a nice home for his family.

But residents of the South Cambridgeshire hamlet Wimpole, which is based near the National Trust property, raised concerns at a meeting on Monday about the impact of the site’s occupation.

They have now formed an Action Group to fight against Mr Crotty’s bid for planning permission to permanently allow him to reside on the land.

One member of the group, who declined to be named, said: “Local residents are up in arms and have formed an action group.

“One nearby householder was going to exchange contracts on his long planned house sale this week but the buyers have pulled out at the last minute because of the arrival of the family.”

It is understood Mr Crotty moved onto the land, just off Cambridge Road, in the middle of March, and then submitted a planning application to change the use of the land to a residential site for one family with two caravans and the erection of an amenity building.

District councillor Aidan Van de Weyer, who represents Wimpole, said: “Like anyone who has made a planning application, I and some residents have found it frustrating when development occurs without permission and a retrospective application is then submitted.

“However, we are all following due process.

“And I have absolute confidence that the planning team at South Cambridgeshire are working towards the best outcome for all concerned.”

Speaking to the News, Mr Crotty, who lives with his wife and three young children, said: “I just want my children to grow up somewhere nice and rural.

“I grew up in a town and it did not go well for me and I do not want the same for my children.”

Mr Crotty, who owns two horses and three dogs, added: “I love animals and want to try to bring my children up with them.

“I can understand why the residents may be unhappy, but I just want somewhere for my family to live as we have nowhere else.”