THREE families have been put in guest houses after they were forced to move out of their caravan homes in a planning tangle.

Strict rules governing Harwood Bar Caravan Park, Great Harwood, mean residents have to up sticks and find themselves temporary accommodation for a month every year or face being temporarily homeless.

Fifteen families were initially threatened with homelessness during January. All but four of them managed to find somewhere to live until they can move back into their homes.

Planning permission at the site prevents residents living there all year round, but they are now fighting for permanent residential status.

Hyndburn Council, which is legally bound to help out, is partly paying the cost for three families to stay in guest houses. A fourth family is currently living in the homeless families' unit. A report to the housing services committee said the bill for the guest houses was £2,677.

Most of the money will come from housing benefit payments and contributions from the caravan owners.

The leader of the council's Tory group, Coun Peter Britcliffe, said he had been aware for several years of the residents' plight and described the situation as "deplorable".

He said: "These people seem to be trapped by circumstances. A lot of them bought their properties under the impression that they could stay on the site for 12 months.

"These families are in a dreadful situation. This has gone on for quite a number of years without a solution. We need to redouble our efforts to find a solution."

Chief executive Mike Chambers said the issue of planning should be dealt with by the planning committee.

He said: "The issue of housing is just one facet of an enormously complicated problem that has already taken in various departments at the council and county council.

"The planning status is a delicate one. The planning committee will have to decide on it."

The report said meetings between the council, owner and residents had failed to reach a compromise.

It added that there appeared to be no planning solution because the park could not be given residential planning permission due to its green belt status.

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