CONCERNED villagers are worried Travellers could pitch up on their doorsteps after acres of land were sold for more than £300,000 at auction.
For more than five years, villagers living in Alvanley and Helsby have campaigned against Travellers living on a temporary site in green belt land on Towers Lane, Alvanley.
Now just over a month after villagers across Helsby, Mickle Trafford, Alvanley and Dunham-on-the-Hill celebrated following the announcement potential Travellers’ sites would not be developed on their doorsteps, fears are growing a neighbouring field could soon be filled with a fresh influx of caravans.
Concerns more Travellers could pitch up in the area were raised after more than 25 acres of agriculture land in Commonside, Alvanley were put up for auction on the Denton Clark website.
Now fears have reached boiling point after the 29 acres of agriculture land were sold at auction for a total of £340,000 under three different lots – more than £100,000 over the original asking price – to an unknown buyer.
Residents living near the land originally considered clubbing together to buy the fields in order to stop them being bought by Gypsies and Travellers at the auction, but were unable to match the high bids placed on the day.
Alvanley Parish Council Clerk Derek Bowker said despite action by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Executive to move forward with the shortlist of sites, the fear of fresh pitches appearing in the village was still very real to home owners and residents.
A spokesperson for Denton Clark Auctioneers confirmed the lots had been bought for a total of £340,000, but would not confirm if the land had been sold to an individual or multiple clients or who had bought the land.
