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Last Updated: Thursday, 6 May, 2004, 07:27 GMT 08:27 UK
Expansion ban at travellers' site
Cottenham travellers' site
Traveller families have lived at Smithy Fen for 40 years
Travellers at a controversial site have been legally banned from adding more caravans.

An injunction was issued on Wednesday night against the owners of the site at Smithy Fen, Cambridgeshire.

The owners had already been refused planning permission to develop the land.

South Cambridgeshire District Council sought the court order banning expansion after protests by more than 1,000 villagers in nearby Cottenham.

The villagers said they would refuse to pay their council tax if the growing site had not been curbed.

A travellers' site has existed near Cottenham for 40 years, housing about 30 families.

But irate residents said the site was expanding because of scores of illegal campsites, and claimed Smithy Fen could soon house 8,000 people.

Terry Brownbill, speaking for the villagers against expansion, said it was hoped that travellers' camps would be limited to a maximum of 20 sites. Each site can house four families.

Eighteen travellers have appealed to the government on human rights grounds after the council refused them permission to live on the site.


SEE ALSO:
Campaign steps up over travellers
20 Apr 04  |  Cambridgeshire
Tax protest over travellers' site
24 Mar 04  |  Cambridgeshire
Symbolic protest over travellers
06 Apr 04  |  Cambridgeshire
Gypsies win battle to stay
20 Jan 04  |  Beds/Bucks/Herts


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