TRAVELLERS ordered to move from a popular playing park in Baxenden have left – but have parked up in Oswaldtwistle.

Four caravans and two cars were spotted at Baxenden Recreation Ground, off Hollins Lane, last Friday, and were joined by more late last week.

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Hyndburn Council solicitors launched proceedings to get the travellers removed, with head of housing and regeneration Mark Hoyle saying: “Illegal campers complied with the court order issued and vacated the site at Hollins Lane at 10.30am on Friday.”

But just hours later, the travellers were spotted rolling their caravans on the former Peel Court site in Oswaldtwistle, yards away from the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre, in Union Road.

Local councillor and former mayor Judith Addison said: “They are very likely the ones who’ve just been moved from Baxenden. The council knows about them and has set the wheels in motion to have them evicted.

“However, this is a legal process involving a court order.”

It can prove a costly and time-consuming process to force travellers to move from council land.

Authorities often have to issue the people parked on their land with a notice instructing them to leave and to attend court, where the council will apply for a possession order, which would allow bailiffs to move in if the travellers do not leave.

In October, the Lancashire Telegraph revealed a total of 35 new pitches will be needed by 2028 to meet the increased demand for traveller sites.

The council already has in excess in excess of 40 empty pitches on a range of private sites across the borough that could be used to meet future demand.

There are two unauthorised Gipsy and Traveller sites in Hyndburn, at Moss Lane and Fir Trees.

The largest authorised sites include Whinney Hill Road, which has 15 of its 16 pitches occupied, and The Green and Duncan Square, which has 12 of its 15 pitches occupied.