The neighbours of a mobile home park in Littleport have reacted with dismay to its plans to expand the premises to accommodate up to 38 new homes.

In April, Birch’s Group asked East Cambridgeshire District Council for permission to extend its existing site, in Padnal, into a further three acres of land, allowing almost 40 new mobile homes to be accommodated.

Although the site is classes as countryside, as in not in the development envelope of Littleport, Birch’s argue that “in the real world” the site is not a isolated new site in the country and is, in fact, already surrounded on all sides by housing development.

Agents acting for Birch’s said: “The proposal provides much-needed additional residential accommodation, of a type favoured by the development plan, and involves no material considerations which give rise to “harm” which would be sufficient to justify refusal.”

The application prompted dozens of letters of objection from neighbours however, who fear the expansion will ruin the peace and quiet they currently enjoy.

Ray and Maureen Grace, of Hyde Park, said: “The extra homes, due to the extension, would result in double the current level of traffic passing our property on a daily basis. This, clearly, would affect the peace and quiet that we value so much.”

Victor McCarthy, of Hyde Park, said: “The sewerage system often fails and I am sure, with a further 30 plus homes, it would not be suitable.”

And Helen Wigmore added: “Hyde Park was marketed and sold as a small, gated retirement park and many residents chose this environment because of age or infirmity. The safety and security of residents would be non-existent with an access route through Hyde Park to a further 38 homes.”

Littleport Parish Council also raised its own objections about sewerage and access.

A decision on the plans is expected within the next month.