A BOROUGH has identified a vacant plot of land on the outskirts of a township as a suitable location to provide the first 10 of more than 30 pitches for travellers and gypsy caravans by 2036.

Hyndburn Council has produced a draft blueprint for new sites for consideration by its Cabinet on Wednesday.

It says that the borough needs to find 31 new pitches by 2036 (down from an original estimate of 49).

The document suggests land at Springvale on the edge of Oswaldtwistle, which already has planning permission for 19 caravans and mobile homes, would be suitable for the first 10 needed by 2024.

It also identifies four other potential sites for the remaining 21 needed to meet Hyndburn's local plan obligations by 2036.

They are land off Whinney Hill Road in Altham with a potential for15 pitches, land at Whitebirk, between the A6119 and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for up to another 15, and two sites off Sough Lane on the outskirts of Oswaldtwistle for a possible14.

Other potential land for long-term provision include a brownfield site off Union Street Garage and land at Charter Street (both in Accrington) and three Oswaldtwistle sites - two near Coach Road Meadow and one between Rhyddings Street and Stone Bridge Lane.

Hyndburn already has 19 sites accommodating 80 families.

The Oswaldtwistle's Lancashire County Councillor Peter Britcliffe said: "I think our borough already does more than its fair share in terms of providing sites for gypsies and travellers.

"It is time other East Lancashire councils did their bit.

"I am sure the residents of Oswaldtwistle will be as concerned as I am that the town is being considered for even more travellers' pitches."

Hyndburn Council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson said: "It is time for other councils to step up and provide more sites. This document will go out to extensive public consultation."

The report to Wednesday's meeting says:"The land at Spring Vale provides a site that could meet the identified short-term need for gypsy and traveller provision.

"The site was granted permission in 2001 for the siting of 10 static caravans and again in 2006 for the siting of nine mobile homes.

" The site remains undeveloped and is owned by a traveller family.

"On the face of it, there appear to be no reasons why this site should not be identified as a site to accommodate nine or 10 pitches."

On meeting the longer term requirement for 21 pitches, the document says: "The proposed sites at Whinney Hill and the site at Whitebirk are in particularly good locations.

"An extension to the site at Sough Lane would potentially provide an additional 10 pitches. However, the site is in the Green Belt."