'Donald Trump's Mexican wall' appears behind row of gardens

Residents in Prunella Drive, Lower Darwen, were left shocked and frustrated after builders pushed hundreds of tonnes of soil against their back gardens.

Ciceley Commercials Ltd is building a Mercedes truck sales and service centre behind the gardens at the site off Roman Road.

Concerns over no drainage, lack of sunlight and the loss of views were raised by those who lived behind the mound.

Prunella Drive resident Ray Winstanley, who has lived on the road for 20 years, said he was annoyed with the new addition behind his fence.

He said: “It looks like Donald Trump’s Mexican wall has come to Lower Darwen. It’s awful, they did not tell us they were going to be putting this there.

“I’m really concerned about the rain run off, the water is going to run from the top of the mound and into my garden. It’s huge - it’s around 25-feet high.”

The site used to house the Royal Ordnance Factory, which was built in 1940 and was once the town’s largest employers with more than 5,000 people working on munitions.

It was closed in 2002, with the loss of 120 jobs.

Karen Mercer, who has lived on Aster Chase for 20 years, said: “It’s a massive eyesore.

“The diggers have been there since before Christmas working on the site but this has only just appeared. Why did they build it so high?

“I was here when the Royal Ordnance Factory was there so I am used to something being there, but not this giant mound. It needs to go, it’s awful.”

Another Prunella Drive resident said: “It does look like Trump’s wall.

“We used to be able to look outside the bedroom windows and see the hills, you can’t anymore, its just a mound of dirt.

“I’m concerned about the water drainage system as I don’t want to have water coming into my garden and get damp.”

Another Prunella Drive resident said: “It makes you feel like you’re suffocating.

“It’s really intrusive and it’s awful.”

The Ciceley Commercials Ltd site at junction 4 of the M65 is running at full capacity.

The Roman Road site would become the truck sales and service centre, with the existing Darwen site retained as the van sales and service centre.

A couple's new Blackburn home was left 'ruined' after a 6ft fence was built next to their home last year.

Blackburn South and Lower Darwen ward Cllr John Slater said: “I and my fellow ward councillors are aware of this and very concerned about it. The amount of earth that has been pushed up near the residents homes seems excessive.

“We have been in touch with the council planning department and enforcement team about this issue.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: “We will look into this. As always where planning permission is granted for a scheme, the council seeks to ensure that any conditions attached to it are observed.”

Mr Trump has pledged to build a large wall across the southern border of the USA in a bid to stop people crossing into the country from Mexico illegally.

Ciceley Commercials Ltd were approached for comment.