FENLAND will be the biggest provider of extra pitches for travellers and gypsies in the whole of East Anglia. The extra 89 pitches to be provided in Fenland will take the minimum by 2011 to 272- making it joint top with South Cambridgeshire. The details w

FENLAND will be the biggest provider of extra pitches for travellers and gypsies in the whole of East Anglia.

The extra 89 pitches to be provided in Fenland will take the minimum by 2011 to 272- making it joint top with South Cambridgeshire.

The details were confirmed today by Shadid Malik, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The announcement builds on the draft policy submitted by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in February 2008.

In a letter to the Chairman of the East of England Regional Assembly today, Mr Shadid asked that the policies are implemented quickly and effectively and that the Regional Assembly develop a delivery plan to show how this can be achieved.

Councillor John Reynolds, Chairman of EERA, said: "There is over �9 million of funding available this year to help councils develop new pitches for gypsies and travellers and improve existing facilities."

"We must get the balance right between addressing the serious disadvantages experienced by members of the travelling communities with the genuine concerns of the settled community."

A total of 1,237 residential pitches, 160 transit pitches and 184 travelling show people plots will be delivered by 2011.

• Cambridge has no pitches but will need 15 by 2011

• East Cambs has 183 but will have 272 by 2011

• Huntingdonshire has 20 pitches and will have 45 by 2011

• Peterborough has 95 pitches but will have to find an extra 30 pitches