Some support but ultimately rejected: proposed Roman Bank home. Picture shows elevations put forward by designers.

RESIDENTS who fear a mini Dale Farm situation could be created on land near Leverington have tried in vain to support plans for a new home to be built on the site.

Seven letters of support were sent in to Fenland District Council, backing plans for a four bedroom house on land south of Rocksworth at Roman Bank

They claimed the site had been derelict for 20 years and a new home would be an attractive addition.

Residents also said they were concerns that the land could fall prey to misuse, and a mini Dale Farm could develop.

But the council’s planning committee followed an officer’s advice and refused the application.

Councillors agreed that building a house on the site would “begin to change the fairly open and fragmented nature of development in the vicinity, causing serious harm to the character and appearance of the locality.”

There were also concerns over highway safety, after the committee was told that “the proposed access is located close to a sharp bend in the highway in Roman Bank,” so there was inadequate visibility each side of the vehicular access.