A GROUP of travellers who had moved onto private land at a power plant in Blackburn have now left the site.

A Scottish Power spokesperson confirmed that the site had been vacated yesterday afternoon.

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Around six caravans arrived at the area at the Scottish Power Plant in Star Drive, Feniscowles, at about 6pm on Tuesday.

A Blackburn with Darwen council spokesperson said that the land was privately owned and the situation would have to be dealt with by the owners and not the council.

The situation in Feniscowles came before a planning application to construct up to 500 homes on the neighbouring former Sappi Paper Mill which was set to be debated by the council last night.

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

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

There would 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.

In 2010 it was revealed that councils in East Lancashire spent almost £40,000 removing and cleaning up after travellers in the previous four years.

The money included that spent on legal fees to remove travellers from illegal encampments as well as the cost of clearing and safeguarding sites after their departure.