TRAVELLERS have set up camp in Comberbach – and face a court appearance for their trouble.
Up to a dozen caravans rolled on to fields off Hough Lane and Cogshall Lane on Good Friday, and started making themselves at home.
The group still resided there when the Chronicle went to press on Tuesday afternoon.
On Sunday, they were issued with a notice ordering them to stop further development of the area after they hooked up to the mains water supply within hours of arriving.
Police were called out to the area on Friday after reports of “a disturbance”, but a spokeswoman said no criminal offences had taken place. The issue is now being dealt with by Vale Royal Borough Council.
A spokesperson said: “We received complaints about a site in Hough Lane, near Anderton, on Friday, March 21.
“Council officers visited the site and established that a group of Travellers had moved on to the land and some developments of the land were taking place.
“Officers sourced and obtained an emergency court order to prevent any further activity on the site.
“A court date has been set for Friday, March 28.”
It is understood the land was recently sold to an Irish businessman by a local farmer.
A nearby resident told the Chronicle: “At 9am on Friday a fleet of wagons arrived, filled in the drainage ditches and moved onto the field.
“Wagonloads of hardcore and rubble were delivered throughout the day resulting in a car park being built on the land – without planning permission.
“How can someone build on land without planning permission? If we did it the council would tear down the construction.”
