A planning application has been submitted to make a controversial Travellers’ site in Lancashire permanent, sparking local opposition and concerns.
Darwen: So, there’s this backdated planning application that’s been thrown into the mix for a Travellers’ site that’s been set up on some grassland near Whitehall Park. It all started when caravans rolled onto private land off Bolton Road, which got the local council all riled up. They even issued a stop notice to halt any groundwork for 18 caravans, six of which were meant to be permanent.
Then, Blackburn with Darwen Council stepped in with an enforcement notice because the landowners didn’t have the right planning permission. But the landowner appealed to the government’s planning inspectorate, which put a pause on any action to clear the site.
Fast forward to December, and local residents were pretty upset. They showed up at a council meeting, backed by Labour councillor Anthony Shaw, to voice their frustrations about the lack of action on the encampment. Now, Thomas Young has submitted a retrospective planning application for the land at Hall Moss Farm, asking to change its use from agricultural to a gypsy caravan site with six plots.
The proposal includes plans for static and mobile caravans, utility blocks, and some fencing. Conservative councillors Julie and Neil Slater are not having it, though. They’re firmly against the application, saying it’s on green belt land and there’s no real need for it.
In the application, it mentions that the land has been used for farming, but it’s not clear what kind. It’s also conveniently close to bus services and shops, which is a plus. The plan is to have six static caravans and some extra space for mobile homes, along with planting trees and hedges for privacy and biodiversity.
But the Slaters are adamant that they’ll keep fighting this. They believe it could lead to future expansions of the site. The council has acknowledged the application and is currently in a consultation period until January 27, notifying nearby properties and putting up notices around the area.
They’ve been on top of the situation since complaints started rolling in back in May 2024. Until the appeal is sorted out, no further work can happen on the site. The planning enforcement team is keeping a close eye on things to make sure everyone follows the rules.
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