ANGRY locals have told how their leafy village has transformed into a “hotspot” for caravans.
Willingham in Cambridgeshire already has one of the highest ratios of caravan-dwellers in the country – at four times the average.
Barry Todd, local parish councillor, slammed the decision to let travellers move into more fields.
He told The Sun it has accepted its “fair share” and is now “at breaking point”.
He said the village, with a population of 4,500, can’t support any more travellers.
Despite residents’ objections, though, South Cambridgeshire District Council has given the go-ahead for 16 caravans at a site called The Piggery.
Cllr Dr Tumi Hawkins told members of the planning committee the travellers needed somewhere to live.
But Mr Todd slammed the decision.
He added: “It’s beyond a joke. They have done a disservice to the people of Willingham.
“The decision process is wishy-washy. They bend over backwards to help the Traveller community.
“They just seem to want to move them all to Willingham – they’re guaranteed a place here. It’s become a hotspot.
“You do have to take care,” he said. “It’s like a small town, so things do happen. But there is good and bad everywhere.”
The latest row was sparked by a retrospective planning application for 16 caravans and three “amenity buildings” at the Piggery, off Haden Way.
The parish council objected on the grounds that there was no mains drainage and the site, which was accessed by an unmade road, was on agricultural land on the edge of the village.
“It’s a public footpath and not their land,” he said. “They also race their cars up and down the road leading to the site and never give way. It’s a wonder there hasn’t been an accident.”
It comes as traveller Pender Smith requested to convert Everetts Field, in Meadow Road into a new home for his family.
South Cambridgeshire District Council gave the green light for two static caravans and three mobile caravans.
A single-storey unit with a dining room, kitchen and bathroom has also been approved.
The council heard at a planning committee meeting earlier this year how the family had lived in the area for most of their lives and the children attended the local school.
The Smiths were looking to move after the owner of the current site they live on now needed the land for his own family.
Due to a “very limited” number of spaces in existing traveller sites and “extensive waiting list” meant planning officers recommended the Smith’s be allowed to covert the land for their new home.
But, Willingham Parish Council objected to the application claiming the village already had its “fair share” of traveller sites.
Planning officers said while the 2016 assessment said no new sites were needed, this document had recently come under “scrutiny” because it was no longer deemed fully accurate.
Councillors ultimately unanimously agreed to grant planning permission to the family for the new traveller homes.
