Visitors centre and cafe planned for new East Cambridgeshire arboretum

Plans for a visitors centre and cafe at a new arboretum in Soham have been described as “terrific” by councillors.

The proposals to convert and extend a former engineering workshop to create the new centre off Eye Hill Drove have been approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Barcham Trees Plc put forward previous plans for the arboretum and visitors centre, which were approved in 2018.

Warren Holmes-Chatfield, from Barcham Trees plc, said planting had begun, but the opportunity had also come up to buy a plot of neighbouring land.

Converting and extending an existing building on this land to create the new visitor centre was “logically a much better choice”, he said.

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At a meeting of the district council’s planning committee on Wednesday (June 21) he told councillors: “Barcham has been working within the community for over 35 years, employing 75 full-time staff and taking on an extra 25 at our busiest periods.

“Over that time we have become one of the leading horticultural businesses in Europe, specialising in trees and proudly holding two royal warrants.

“The application for an arboretum and the country’s first biosecure garden centre will help strengthen our ties with other local communities, creating 35 to 40 extra jobs and bringing more tourism to the local area.

“The arboretum is our chance to show people how important trees are both for practical, educational and aesthetic purposes.

“We are all becoming acutely aware of climate change. Trees will and are playing a major role in climate mitigation and this is our chance to highlight their importance through showing and educating people, which has been our passion for many years.

Mr Holmes-Chatfield said the project was “unique” as the company was planting more trees in the landscape than it was taking out.

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He also said the new arboretum would create a “lasting legacy for future generations”.

Cllr Julia Huffer (Con, Fordham and Isleham) thought the plans were “terrific”.

Cllr Gareth Wilson (Lib Dem, Haddenham) thought it was a “jolly good scheme” and plans for education work with schools would be a “very useful addition to this community”.

Cllr Christine Ambrose Smith (Con, Littleport) said the additional jobs for the area were “welcome”.

Cllr John Trapp (Lib Dem, Bottisham) and Cllr Christine Whelan (Lib Dem, Ely West) both said they had some concerns about people having difficulty getting on to the A142 from Eye Hill Drove and that traffic could back up to the site’s entrance.

A highway officer told councillors they were happy with the plans and that while there may be a bit of waiting time at the junction, they did not think it would be for long.

Eight councillors voted in favour of the plans, with two abstaining.

The approval was given on the condition an agreement was signed by the owners not to implement the previously approved application.