WILBURTON S travelling showmen want to expand their yard on to two new parcels of land in the village. The sites in Whitecross Road and Station Road are between the existing yard and would house five families in caravans and be used to store equipment. Bu

WILBURTON'S travelling showmen want to expand their yard on to two new parcels of land in the village.

The sites in Whitecross Road and Station Road are between the existing yard and would house five families in caravans and be used to store equipment.

But the projects have prompted objections from Wilburton Parish Council and the village's district councillor, Bill Hunt.

They fear lorries with long trailers visiting the area would cause traffic problems in narrow Whitecross Road.

Parish councillors were also concerned about sewage and drainage problems.

Cllr Hunt told members of the East Cambridgeshire District Council's planning committee in a letter: "Whitecross Road is a long and very narrow single track road which already has many problems with large vehicle movements.

"The additional long vehicles that this application would bring to the narrow road would be harmful to the area. The increased development in the district means that these small roads are already experiencing additional private car usage, as the main roads, such as the A10, become congested."

But council officers urged planning committee members at their meeting yesterday (Wednesday) to give the go-ahead for the yard at Whitecross Road, subject to a scheme for surface water drainage and improved access.

They recommended refusal of the Station Road project, however, claiming that it would extend the yard into open countryside.