Hundreds of villagers fear the value of their homes 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.

Shocking before and after pictures showed how Travellers transformed a one acre 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 feel now "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 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.

The second - one acre 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 third 1.6 acre site on Broad Lane was bought in 2023 - an application for change of use was denied but nine caravans can be seen at the site.

The latest site at Burtonwood was bought earlier this year and half the green field site quickly covered in gravel with 13 caravans, four vans and three cars parked there without permission.

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 also said: "As with all reported breaches of planning control, we investigate and take action when it is necessary to do so."

The first location built upon was a 1.6 acre plot on Pennington Lane where in 2017 the land owner applied for a retrospective change of land use.

They requested to use the land as a family caravan site including the sitting of 4 trailer caravans,1 day room and 2 stable buildings for a family of six.

The application was approved with four conditions including building an acoustic fence to reduce noise levels from the adjacent road and applying for an official site license.

Though in 2024 they had one planning application for the siting of a second family day room building to the existing Traveller caravan site refused.



In 2025 they have another application refused for the same family day room plus one additional caravan.

Now images show a house, three unidentified buildings, two stables, two caravans, three cars, and two vans protected by a 10-foot wooden fence.

Then in 2020 Warrington Council approved with conditions for a change of use for a 0.3-acre old timber yard bought for £3000 across the road on Penkford Lane allowing a two pitch (two statics and two trailer) traveller site.

They also allowed the erection of a day room and septic tank following the demolition of the site buildings and the cessation of the lawful use (B2 Commercial).

But since, a retrospective planning application was refused on March 14 this year for the creation of a mixed-use site to provide three permanent gypsy and traveller pitches, consisting of six static caravans and a day room on the remaining 0.8 acres they purchased which included a two storey property on the land.

The land owner also sought permission for 10 pitches for static caravans to provide living accommodation for a ‘settled community' of persons who do not meet the definition of a gypsy or traveller.

Alongside engineering works which have been carried out within the site, including the installation of rows of gabion baskets along part of the western boundary of the site, to act as a retaining wall.

The council said the proposal was "unacceptable" and "constitutes inappropriate" development to the green belt."

Images 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.

Then just 0.8 miles away to the south on Broad Lane, there is an alleged third traveler camp on the grounds of an old pumping station.

In January 2023 the land owner applied for planning permission to change land usage but it was denied a year later.

They requested a part family Traveller site with three trailer caravans and one static alongside a part transit site with three trailer caravans both with subsequent amenity blocks.

It also requested the ability to keep horses at the 2.2 acre location following the removal of the station and other related structures.

Now images show nine caravans, two cars, and a van at the plot.

Councillor Stuart Mann, who represents Burtonwood on Warrington Borough Council, said: "I am pleased that Warrington Borough Council is taking seriously the very valid concerns many residents of Burtonwood and Collins Green have with regards to these developments and others in the local area."

"Penkford and Broad Lane were two of the very first planning matters brought to my attention when I was elected just over a year ago and the issue was ongoing long before my time with no apparent resolution in sight."

"Whilst I understand due process must be followed to achieve the right outcome for the entire community, I also am acutely aware of the frustration residents have felt and continue to feel about just how long it has taken to get to this point and the lack of regular updates on progress."

"It is my sincere hope that all parts of these investigations and notices are completed very soon."

It comes after just three weeks ago just over a mile and a half away in Burtonwood a group of Travellers caused outrage after buying a 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 were 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."