TRAVELLERS who have taken up residence in the shadow of one of Oswaldtwistle’s most prominent buildings are not causing any problems, according to the manager.

John Kirby, from the town’s Civic Theatre, said that there have been no issues with the new arrivals since they rolled on to the site last week. The privately-owned site is currently derelict and has planning permission for a residential home for the elderly.

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The site became occupied after Hyndburn Borough Council launched proceedings to get the Travellers removed from the Baxenden Recreation Ground in Hollins Lane.

Mr Kirby said: “We fully expected them to come in and use the toilets but that has not happened. People have been coming in as normal and there have been no problems at all. We are a bit concerned about how it portrays the local area but apart from that there is no problem whatsoever.

There are two unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in Hyndburn, at Moss Lane and Fir Trees. The largest authorised sites include Whinney Hill Road, which has 15 of its 16 pitches occupied, and The Green and Duncan Square, which has 12 of its 15 pitches occupied. The site at Sankey House Farm has nine of its ten pitches available.

A site for travelling show people, in Burnley Road, has 18 plots, none occupied.

Cllr Julie Livesey, who represents the area on Hyndburn Council, said: “We do not want them here because they leave a mess. I believe that there are sites set out for them to use. I would like to see them removed from the site as soon as possible.

“Where they are they are hidden because of the trees and you might not notice them straight away.”