Soham family apply for new traveller pitches

A SOHAM family has applied to convert a patch of wasteland on the outskirts of the town into two traveller sites.

Mrs and Mrs W Tidd, of Hasse Road, have applied to East Cambridgeshire District Council to clear a half-acre patch of land at Long Dolver Drove and convert it into two traveller sites for their family.

A similar application on the land was entered in 2009 but was refused by the authority because of concerns over highway safety, particularly over increased use of Long Dolver Drove.

Mr Tidd, whose family has lived in Soham for 42 years, said he had commissioned a consultancy firm to study the site and “address the issues of visibility” on the road.

He told planners that his family had continued to grow in recent years and he needed to move to help accommodate them.

He said: “As you will appreciate, there is no further space at our current site to accommodate further family members. I therefore began to look for nearby land to occupy my growing family.

“The site has been designed to minimise impact on the surrounding area. Further landscaping, if considered necessary, will be planted along open boundaries.”

A decision on the plans is expected within the next eight weeks. To view the plans, or to have your say, visit www.eastcambs.gov.uk.