Land at March school will be sold despite objections

Zoe Wakelen, one of the leading opponents of plans to build 130 homes on land off Barker's Lane in March, has accused county councillors of putting money ahead of people, with a decision made by Cambridgeshire County Council's assets and procurement committee this week.

The committee discussed the sale of a 'ransom' strip of land, measuring 120 metres long and five metres wide, at the meeting on Tuesday at New Shire Hall, with councillors agreeing to sell the sliver of land for an undisclosed sum to the developer wanting to build the houses.

Planning permission for the homes was granted last October, but Zoe pointed out that some councillors seemed unaware of this as they discussed the pros and cons of selling the land, which forms part of the Neale-Wade Academy site.

The plans for 130 homes on land off Barker's Lane in March were approved by Fenland District Council in October last year.(Image: Fenland District Council)

Zoe said: "It was very frustrating, the councillors didn't seem to know what they were talking about.

"The committee chair (Cllr Karen Young) did not know the length of the land, and another councillor admitted to being unfamiliar with the area. It seems that no councillors visited the site before voting, which is not what you would expect.

"You would have thought they would have taken the time to have a look at the land they were being asked to sell, so at least they understood what they were talking about."

Zoe, who wrote a lengthy last-minute objection to the sale after learning about it from a Cambs Times article, said: "Neither residents nor parents were consulted about the decision, or about the committee meeting itself.

The homes are planned for land off of Barker's Lane in March.(Image: Google Streetview)

"The sum the land was sold for was not disclosed, yet councillors seemed more worried about the potential loss of revenue, if they did not approve it there and then, than about discussing the wider implications for residents, road safety, flooding, and the environment."

She said the parcel of land includes trees covered by Tree Protection Orders, but that was not mentioned at the meeting, and she claimed that when this was pointed out previously to Fenland District Council, it did not seem to know about the orders.

"One of our group has copies of all the paperwork for the TPOs, but the council did not seem to be aware of them, which is ridiculous," said Zoe.

She said: "I am upset that the planning permission was granted, but we knew it was inevitable. But I am more upset about the sale of this land.

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"It is not necessary to have access for the development off of Barker's Lane, it can be accessed from Lambs Hill Drove, and we can't understand why that cannot be used instead.

"It feels as if financial and political priorities are being placed above the safety, welfare, and voice of the people of March.

"A large majority of March residents are deeply worried about overdevelopment. Green, recreational spaces are being lost; animals are losing habitats; and established trees (including protected ones) are being removed with little thought.

"By agreeing to sell this land to the developer, Cambridgeshire County Council has disregarded every objection raised by the residents who actually live here and use Barker's Lane.

"They failed to consider the ongoing safety risks at the already dangerous staggered four-way junction, where vehicles exiting Barker's Lane must give way to traffic from three directions.

"This road is already congested at peak times, and with over 1,500 new houses now approved in the surrounding area—with no additional safety measures included—the risks will only increase.

"Drainage has also been ignored: Barker's Lane floods regularly, and this land plays an important role in helping to absorb and prevent excess water.

"These are just a few of the concerns raised; there are many more valid objections that have been overlooked."

Zoe concluded: "Over 800 residents have signed a petition opposing the felling of the trees, which is exactly what the sale of this school land will now allow to happen.

"Yet it appears that neither Fenland District Council nor Cambridgeshire County Council has seriously taken this into account."

The discussion at Tuesday's meeting lasted no more than 15 to 20 minutes.

It mainly centred around ensuring the council gained the best price for the land, with the proceeds from the sale set to be split 50/50 between the Neale-Wade Academy and the council.

Chris Ramsbottom, the council's service director for property, said the sale would bring in much-needed funds for this financial year, and said there was no alternative to making the sale other than doing nothing.

However, that would mean the proposed housing development would not proceed, and the county council would not benefit from the potential capital receipt.

At the end of a discussion, a vote on the motion to sell the land was passed by a majority vote, with two councillors choosing to abstain