HUNDREDS of villagers fear house prices will plunge after four travellers’ camps with unauthorised buildings and vehicles sprung up around their properties.
Residents of the pretty hamlet of Collins Green, near Warrington, Cheshire, spoke out just weeks after the latest site appeared just over a mile away from their properties.
SWNSTravellers can be seen bulldozing green belt fields[/caption] SWNSFour travellers’ camps with unauthorised buildings and vehicles have sprung up in the area[/caption] SWNSLocal residents are fearful that the sites could impact the prices of their homes[/caption]Shocking before and after pictures showed how travellers transformed a plot of green belt land in Burtonwood, Cheshire into a car park in just 72 hours earlier this month.
Residents of the hamlet, which has a population of less than 500 people, say they now feel “trapped” after a total of four sites have been built close to them since 2017.
All four sites, which are located on green belt land, sit around a mile apart and all have unauthorised buildings and vehicles on them including Penkford Lane which is home to 24 caravans.
The plots’ land owners have all had planning applications refused by Warrington Borough Council leaving residents “furious”.
Local residents are fearful to talk about the impact on their homes but say that vandalism and theft is a concern.
They are also angry at the blatant flouting of planning and development regulations.
One said: “Will the council tax be reduced in our area as property values will drop?
“We have four caravan parks near Collins Green, all have started built without planning
“You don’t build then apply – it is unbelievable.
“Over the years I have been here there have been a number of planning applications refused.”
Another said: “We are surrounded by travellers.
“Traffic is horrendous on Penkford Lane – residents are most concerned for their safety and house prices are dropping.”
A spokesperson from Warrington Borough Council has told that there are “ongoing investigations into all of the sites” with “formal notices” served on the Penkford Lane and Broad Lane developments.
They have said the Broad Lane development is also “subject to an appeal to the Secretary of State”.
The spokesperson added: “As with all reported breaches of planning control, we investigate and take action when it is necessary to do so.”
The first 1.6 acre site appeared in 2017 in Pennington Lane in which change of use was granted retrospectively but further applications have been denied.
Images now show a house, three unidentified buildings, two stables, two caravans, three cars, and two vans protected by a 10-foot wooden fence.
The second site, just 50 metres away on Penkford Lane, was granted change of use with two static caravans and two trailers in 2020, but further applications for three caravans and six pitches were refused.
The council said the proposals were “unacceptable” and “constitutes inappropriate” development to the green belt.
Images now show 24 caravans, a fully renovated two-storey house, a van, and six cars sat on hard standing well as a 10 foot wooden fence surrounding the exterior at the location tagged Broad Oak Residential Park after a sign was erected.
The third 1.6 acre site on Broad Lane was bought in 2023 and an application for change of use was denied but nine caravans can be seen at the site.
SWNSThe travellers have been building on green-belt land[/caption] SWNSThe land was converted into a car park in just 72 hours[/caption]The latest site at Burtonwood was bought just a few weeks ago and half the green field site was quickly covered in gravel with a number of vehicles parked there without permission.
Travellers caused outrage after buying the six-acre green belt field and turning it into a gravel car park within 72 hours.
Before and after photos revealed how the plot was transformed over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
In just three days a 10ft-high wooden fence was erected along the boundary and half of the field was covered in hard core and gravel.
Pictures showed 13 caravans, four vans, a digger and three cars parked on the hardcore.
Following the unauthorised work a retrospective planning application has been submitted to the local council.
The council have said they have yet to receive a full planning application from the land owner.
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the potential breach of planning control on land off Farmers Lane in Burtonwood, and are currently investigating the issue.
“The national planning system allows for an application to be made retrospectively, and we understand that the developer may seek to submit a valid planning application.
“The fact that works have already been undertaken will not influence or affect any decision. An application would still need to be considered against the Warrington Local Plan policies, with consideration given to any other material issues.
“We appreciate that there may be strong feeling within the community in relation to the works undertaken and, subsequently, to any related planning application.
“Any representations should be made in writing to the council, based on the details submitted within a valid application, so that they can be considered in the decision-making process.
“In the meantime, we will continue to monitor and investigate the situation on-site.”
SWNSTravellers have set up four sites in the area[/caption] Read More Details
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