A landowner who plans to sell his plot to make way for a caravan park has said that locals worried the site could turn into the next Dale Farm are “just scaremongering”.
Freddie Smith, who lives in Caistor, Lincolnshire, plans to sell his bungalow and the adjoining land to businessman Phil Manning so he can build a 40-pitch caravan park on the 1.7-hectare site.
However, following objections from the local Brigg Road Residents group, Mr Smith has said that the idea the caravan park would turn into an illegal travelers’ site like the one in Essex are “ridiculous”, the Market Rasen Mail reported.
Planning permission has been requested to create the park, which would have a shop, a cafe and space for 20 tents, but locals have complained that it would make the road dangerous and could turn into another Dale Farm.
In fact it is quite the opposite, says Mr Smith, who believes that the park would be good for the town by attracting people and business.
“It will bring people into the town and they will spend their money in the town and use the amenities around the area,” he told the newspaper.
A slip road at the entrance is included in the plans, which should remove the danger of caravans entering and exiting the site without permission, Mr Smith added.
