CONTROVERSIAL plans for a travellers’ site in Lower Darwen have been re-submitted.

Proposals for four caravans at the former Lawnmower Specialists premises off Sandy Lane were met with mass opposition before being withdrawn before Christmas.

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Vehicles returned to the site on Monday without planning permission, prompting fury from councillors and MP Jake Berry.

Applicant John Loveridge lodged the proposals once again yesterday afternoon but Blackburn with Darwen Council is yet to make documents publicly available. That is expected to happen in the next few days or weeks.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition objecting to Mr Loveridge’s plans to install four live-in caravans on the land last November.

Around 300 people packed out a meeting in Lower Darwen Community Centre, prompting Mr Loveridge to withdraw the proposals.

Conservative councillor Jacqueline Slater said she would fight the new application ‘all the way’.

She said: “I have had many calls enquiring about the caravans returning to the old Lawnmower site. As far as I’m concerned they should not be there.

“I took a call from the neighbourhood policing team who have been down to see them and I am told that they have arrived from Rochdale.”

“There is a family living in the caravan. They know the system and they will play the system. The residents down there are angered by this.”

The renewed application outlines plans for the existing commercial use of the site to be retained and for part of the land to be used as accommodation for one static caravan, three touring caravans and the erection of an amenity building.

Coun Slater said another public meeting would be called once she had received full details of the new application.

She said: “We promise to hold another meeting in the next fortnight. Myself, the other councillors, and the MP will all fight this all the way.

“We had word that they would be submitting another application this week and we await the full details.”

Residents had expressed fears about a drop in house prices and anti-social behaviour if the caravans were given the go-ahead to stay permanently.

Mr Berry said: “I have had dozens of phone calls from local residents complaining that caravans have moved onto the site, despite plans being withdrawn last year.”

“I’ll be working closely with local councillors to make sure Blackburn with Darwen Council takes appropriate action.”

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said they were aware of the caravans on the site and were investigating.