NEIGHBOURS claim their picturesque countryside village became a “concrete jungle”‘ just 72 hours after a fleet of caravans moved in.
The plot of land in Burtonwood, Cheshire has been completely transformed after diggers and excavators moved on to the site last month.
SWNSThe site is located on green belt land and could be a planning violation[/caption]
SWNSIt was turned into a ‘concrete jungle’ just 72 hours after the sale went through[/caption]
Work began at 6pm on May 23 – just hours after the sale of the six-acre site was approved.
Locals reported that excavators and tipper trucks were working through the night to convert the once-green field into a gravel caravan site.
The work was conducted on greenbelt land without planning permission, leaving residents frustrated.
During three days of unauthorised work, half the field was covered in hardcore, and a 10ft-high wooden fence was erected around the boundary.
Since then, over a dozen caravans and other vehicles have moved onto the site.
Given its status as a greenbelt, residents have complained that the land should be used solely for agricultural purposes.
While the new inhabitants have filed a retrospective planning application, Warrington Borough Councillor Stuart Mann has confirmed that an investigation has been launched.
Mann told the Mail that he had received ‘hundreds’ of emails while more than 50 people turned up to his surgery to complain.
Locals also vented their concerns on social media.
One wrote: “Breach!? It’s a s****** concrete jungle!!!!”
Another added: “Blame the person who sold the land to them in the first place.
Stuart has raised the issue with the chief executive of Warrington Borough Council, as well as the MP for Warrington North.
He said: “I have received, from borough council planning and enforcement teams, that a retrospective planning application has been received, but that it is yet to be validated.
“Any such application has to be determined on its relative merits.
“This will take a number of weeks.”
Vice chairman of Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council Nigel Catlow described it as a “very serious and fast-moving issue.”
Writing to the council he said: “The landowners appear to be in serious breach, making the most of the Bank Holiday and the council being on a long weekend.
“This is of great concern to many residents and council taxpayers in Burtonwood and the wider area of Warrington West.”
An enforcement notice has been taken to the site, but Stuart said it could take weeks for the issue to be resolved.
It is particularly difficult as Stuart highlighted that it is “important for it to be known the people who have done this own the land.”
Commenters on the article shared similar incidents in their own villages as one said: “We’ve had a similar situation and it is now years down the line and the council seem to find it impossible to do anything about it.”
Others were less sympathetic, using it as an opportunity to mock the council’s lack of effiency.
One said: “They sound like better organisers than most councils and government departments.”
Cheshire Police and Scottish Power have also been informed.
SWNSLocals have complained to the council about the development[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
