Shailesh Vara, Member of Parliament for North West Cambridgeshire, has welcomed the decision by the Planning Inspectorate to refuse planning permission for the proposed traveller site along Straight Drove, Farcet, in Huntingdonshire.

The site was subject to a planning application in October 2012 for two traveller sites each with two caravans, additional family room caravan and facilities block which would have accommodated two extended traveller families. The local planning authority, Huntingdonshire District Council, refused the application in September 2014 and following this an appeal was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by the applicant. A public hearing took place in August 2015 which included a site visit.

In his decision, the Inspector, Mr Mark Dakeyne, considered that the factors weighing in favour of the traveller site were outweighed by the overriding concerns he had about the impact of the proposal on the residents of Conquest House; a facility providing supported living for residents with learning disabilities and mental health issues.

Mr Vara commented:
“I am very pleased that the Planning Inspector has dismissed the appeal for the proposed traveller site along Straight Drove, Farcet. This is the right decision and it will be welcomed by local residents.

“There has been significant local opposition to the plans for more than 3 years and it is good to see that common sense has prevailed.”