Tax boycott over travellers' site

Packed meeting of Cottenham village residents.

More than 400 residents of a village in Cambridgeshire have voted to withhold council tax in a row over a travellers' site.

The villagers took the decision at a packed meeting on Tuesday night and expressed dismay at continuing growth of a travellers' site in Cottenham.

They claim there are now 54 illegally occupied plots on the site.

The meeting passed a vote of no confidence in South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Their main criticism was that the local authority is failing to stop expansion.

Fighting for rights

Rick Bristow, chairman of Smithy Fen Residents Association, said: "We're fighting for our rights and want the council to apply the law.

"We are also going to ask the government to amend its laws on the size of plots available to travellers.

Travellers' site at Cottenham continues to expand.

"We've just had enough. This site just seems to expand without any consultation with local residents.

"The local council are not looking after our interests so we have had to apply some pressure by refusing to pay tax."

A spokesperson for South Cambridgeshire District Council said: "Since 1999 we have turned down two planning applications for the site only to see them overturned on appeal by inspectors."

The travellers' site is about a mile from the heart of the commuter village near Cambridge.

South East Cambridgeshire MP James Paice said he obviously could not support illegal action but added he could understand the frustration of the villagers.

"These travellers have moved into the area and have more recently got planning consent not from the council who opposed it but from the Department of the Deputy Prime Minster's planning inspectorate who have held inquiries," he said.

A spokesman for the travellers said they paid for water, electricity and paid their council tax.

"We do all that. What more do they want?" he asked.

South Cambridgeshire District Council has said if villagers do withhold their council tax, they will be taken to court.