Statement from Shailesh VARA MP

Also Statement from District Cllr
Maddie Banerjee

Farcet Traveller Site Proposals.

Over the past month I have received many letters and emails
from local residents concerned with HDC plans for gypsy
traveller sites across the area. The proposals are part of a
programme initiated under the previous Labour Government.
I have met with Cllr Ian Bates, the Council's Leader and made
it absolutely clear that I am opposed to the proposals - which
include both sites in Farcet. Furthermore, my opposition has been
well documented in the local media.

One of the reasons for my opposition is that the new Coalition
Government has said that the local authorities are no longer
bound by plans initiated under the previous Government.
Following this announcement, other local authorities, such as
Peterborough and Cambridgeshire City Councils and South
Cambridgeshire Council have abandoned thier plans and I
believe HDC should do the same.

The other local authorities have been able to do this because
the new Government scrapped quotas for housing which were
previously required. The new approach is to empower councils
to make decisions based on the needs of their local areas.
Regrettably, HDC is unwilling to drop the old plans.

It is very disappointing that HDC are taking this stance. Let me
make is clear that I will continue to campaign against these
redundant proposals and ensure that communities come before
quotas.

I have also left the Council in no doubt that its consultation is
flawed. My understanding of the word "consultation" is that
you listen to local residents' views and then make a decision.

However, page 7 of the consultation document advises that 12
sites including the 2 in Farcet, should go through to the
next stage. The consultation has already made its conculsions
and is therefore a sham; it barely pays lip service to the views
and needs of the local community here in Farcet.

Moreover, given that the consultation is no longer required, I
will be asking the Council how much this whole exercise is
costing the taxpayer.

I would add that the proposals for Farcet are not suitable for
a variety of reasons.

Corner of Straight Drove and Kings Delph Drove

Firstly, I object to plans for development on the corner of
Straight Drove and Kings Delph Drove because of the negative
impact it would have on the character of the local area. In
essence, the character of the village is being undermined by
poorly thought out development.

There are question marks over how the visible impact of a
travellers' site would be mitigated here. One example is the
planting of additional trees. However, the Council's consultation
document discusses a road access point in a break within the
existing trees whilst also stating a transport statement is
necessary to ensure safety - naturally, with visability as the issue.
The proposal says that trees should not be removed, but there
is no guarantee that they will not be removed for road
accessibility. This uncertainty is a cause for concern.

It is my view that this proposal will have a negative impact on
the village, its surroundings and its rural character thus
rendering it unsuitable.

My next objection is in regards to the potential threat to the 
area's ecology and biodiversity. The proposal has more than
just cosmetic environmental risks attached to it - there is 
potential for agricultural contamination. After giving consideration
to these facts, in my mind there is no doubt that this
brings the suitablilty of this development firmly into question.

My concluding objection to this site is the potential for flooding on
the site. Despite changes to the Environment Agency's 
classification for flood risks, for the time being the site currently
has the Zone 3 designation which is high risk. Given local resident's
concerns pertaining to it, I contend that this adds to the 
unsuitablility of the site.

Straight Drove

Turning to the site on Straight Drove in the fields adjacent to
Conquest House, I have concluded that this is also unsuitable
for development into a travellers' site.

The Straight Drove proposal will similarly impact on the local 
character of the area, as with the other site. There are also
implications for neighbouring land which include residential 
properties. Part of the site has no vegitation to screen the
effects of the development and in my view additional planting
may not be enough to mitigate such and impact.

Again, potential agricultural contamination is a problem. 
Because the local area is agricultural in character, complete with
agricultural dwellings, the continued presence of ecology
and biodiversity risks make the site unsuitable.

I also dispute the suitabilty of the site when it comes to the
issue of traffic considerations. The access road from the site
is a 60mph road, namely Straight Drove. This presents clear
risks, particularly considering the fact that the road has no
footpaths all the way to the village.

In conclusion, both proposals have little sensitivity to the local
character of Farcet. The risks attached to the visual amenity of the
area as well as ecology and contamination problems, along with
the road safety implications make these plans unsuitable.

In the meantime, I urge everyone to write to HDC directly, making
your views known. Due to high public interest, the District
Council has extended the consultation period to 30th July. Please
write in as sonn as possible and certainly no later than the deadline.

Shailesh Vara MP
North West Cambridgeshire 



Statement from District Cllr Maddie Banerjee