Draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan for consultation

Object

Representation ID: 201625

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Fen End Farm

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

In 2003, Cottenham Residents Association (CRA) was formed specifically to press South Cambridgeshire District Council to take seriously its responsibilities in managing the relationship between settled communities and the Smithy Fen Traveller Site. At that time, residents experienced several problems including anti-social behaviour, theft. These issues have had a significant lasting impact on residents.

Twenty-three years on, it is deeply disappointing that concerns remain. Currently there is a lack of visible and effective enforcement at Smithy Fen, that does not inspire confidence that the Council has learned from the past experience.

I am particularly concerned to the potential intensification at existing sites. At Smithy Fen, many pitches are now occupied by individuals who don’t meet the definition of Gypsies and Travellers. This raises the question If existing pitches are not being occupied by the intended community, what evidence is there that additional pitches are required at this location. It also suggests that Gypsies and Travellers themselves may not be choosing to live at Smithy Fen, which in turn raises questions about the sites suitability.

Object

Representation ID: 201626

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Fen End Farm

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Concerns around the physical characteristics of the site, as Smithy Fen is low-lying and immediately adjacent to a watercourse that is regularly subject to flood alerts. Intensification or expansion at the site would place more residents at increased risk of flooding.

Object

Representation ID: 201627

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Fen End Farm

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The consultation document implies that site optimisation has been considered across the district. If this is the case, I would ask SCDC to make public the details of any studies undertaken into alternative Gypsy and Traveller sites.

Object

Representation ID: 201628

Received: 22/01/2026

Respondent: Fen End Farm

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

It is my understanding that new major developments are expected to make provision for Gypsy and Traveller Communities. I have seen no evidence that such provision has been made, or meaningfully planned, within developments such as Northstowe or Waterbeach. If this understanding Is incorrect, I would welcome clarification; If it is correct, that the apparent failure to deliver such provision undermines the rationale for further intensification at existing, problematic sites such as Smithy Fen.