A GROUP of travellers moved on to private land at a power plant in Blackburn.

About six caravans arrived at an area at the Scottish Power plant in Star Drive, Feniscowles, at about 6pm on Tuesday.

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The group was parked up about 60 metres from the power station itself.

Bailiffs were set to remove them yesterday.

Cllr John Pearson, who represents the Feniscowles area, said: “As far as I am aware, there is security on the gate, so how they managed to get on I don’t know.

“There is accommodation for travellers at Ewood, so I don’t know why they don’t use that.”

A spokesman for Scottish Power said: “We are aware of a situation and we are working with all parties involved to resolve it amicably.”

A group of travellers had also taken up residence on an area between JRT Supplies and Pets Choice, at the Whitebirk Industrial Estate, off Lower Philips Road, Blackburn, on Tuesday night.

A spokeswoman for Blackburn with Darwen Council confirmed yesterday that the travellers had since left the Lower Philips Road site.

The situation in Feniscowles comes before a planning application to construct up to 500 homes on the neighbouring former Sappi Paper Mill is debated by the council tonight.

Applicant Blackburn Waterside Regeneration Ltd is also seeking to erect a community building and an employment park if the plan is given the go-ahead.

If approved, the proposal, which will incorporate the existing power station on the site between Livesey Branch Road and Preston Old Road, will be developed in five separate parcels, including 57 acres of public open space and extensive landscaping.

There will be a new access highway, called Stanworth Park Road, linking Livesey Branch Road and Moulden Brow, and improved access for walkers to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Raddlesworth River.