South Cambridgeshire District Council has secured an injunction to protect people and property at Fen Road in Chesterton – following a recent fire.
The order was granted in the High Court on Friday 2 May. It makes it illegal for any more caravans or mobile homes to be put on land cleared following a recent fire among unauthorised caravans on a site known as The Laurels on Fen Road.
The injunction runs until 1 May 2026 and follows an initial shorter-term order that the District Council secured just after the fire.
The area at The Laurels had planning permission granted for a total of seven Gypsy and Traveller pitches, with restrictions on who could occupy the site. This was to make sure pitches with planning permission are only used by the members of the Gypsy and Traveller community, to help meet a need for dedicated pitches identified by the Council.
However, the green belt site has been used recently for a much greater number of caravans - some of which were being used by people who are not from the Gypsy and Traveller community.
Last month (Sunday 20 April) there was a major fire at The Laurels. It involved several caravans, outbuildings, vehicles, and a stable block, all of which suffered significant damage, partly due to the proximity of the unauthorised caravans.
After the fire, Council officers visited The Laurels and saw it was already being cleared of debris. Some concrete hardstanding, which caravans sat on, was still in place. As well as breaking planning rules, the potential replacement of the unauthorised caravans would again pose a significant fire risk and public safety risk. The Council therefore took the exceptional step of seeking an injunction in the High Court.
Whilst Council officers are assessing the most appropriate approach for the mobile homes that remain on site without planning permission, and those being lived in by non-Travellers and their housing needs, the injunction prevents further caravans from being put there.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr John Batchelor, said: “We are relieved nobody was seriously hurt during this large fire. We have stepped-in to prevent replacement caravans or mobile homes being brought in as there is a clear public safety risk if that were to happen.”
“We continue to offer free advice and support to people displaced from this site or across the district to explain the housing options open to them. Council housing advice staff always assess whether anyone facing homelessness needs a place to stay for a short time. If your home is in bad condition and it is affecting your health – like there being no heating or no hot water, and your landlord is not fixing the problems, our Environmental Health team also need to know so appropriate action can be taken.”
For Housing advice, visit our Housing advice pages, email housingadvice@scambs.gov.uk or call 01954 713000.
To contact the Council’s Environmental Health team to report an issue with a rented home, visit our Environmental Health pages, email env.health@scambs.gov.uk or call 01954 713000.
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