August 21, 2018 4.10 pm This story is over 67 months old

Plan to house farm workers at caravan park refused

They estimated around 100 workers would live in the 25 caravans
The entrance to the caravan site. Photo: Google Maps.

Plans to use a caravan and leisure park for the housing of agricultural workers for up to three years have been stopped in their tracks by councillors.

The plans for the Old Leake Caravan and Leisure Park, on Shaw Lane, would have allowed the owners, brothers Michael and Anthony White, to use up to 25 of the 60 pitches for workers employed within the borough of Boston.

The application gave evidence that the leisure park was no longer economically viable.

Ward councillor Barrie Pierpoint said he knew the duo had tried to make it a success and had been unsuccessful.

“They’ve done everything they possibly can,” he said, adding the change would help local businesses.

He said the brothers had put up signs and had three separate development control managers trying to help them.

The site plan for the 25 caravans which were planned to house agricultural workers.

A number of councillors were in support of the change.

Councillor Alison Austin said some of the living conditions were ‘much preferable to some of the Houses in Multiple Occupancies in terraced properties around the town’.

She even went so far as to ask a condition limiting the workers to being employed within the borough to be removed – arguing that agricultural staff have always been bussed places.

“Our economy needs these people and it doesn’t just stop at the Borough of Boston,” she suggesting instead that employment could be within an hours drive.

Chairman Councillor David Brown quipped ‘an hours drive in Boston will probably get you four miles’.

However, Councillor Jonathan Noble said the plans would change the character of the area.

He estimated there being up to 100 workers living within the 25 caravans.

The officer recommendation was to grant the application, however, a vote to do so failed by one and councillors instead voted to reject it.

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