Residents reported heavy machinery, lorries and caravans arriving at the site in the early hours of Friday morning
Knowsley Council said it is aware of “unauthorised development works” taking place on a field in Whiston, after a number of caravans appeared on land between Fox’s Bank Lane and Blundells Lane on Friday, April 3.
In a statement, the council said the activity had begun within the last 24 hours and confirmed that Merseyside Police had attended the site. However, it emphasised that the land lies within the boundary of St Helens Council, making it the responsible regulatory authority.
Knowsley Council also clarified that the works are not connected to its own proposed plans to expand Knowsley Cemetery at the nearby Whiston Woods site.
Images from the scene show large number of caravans parked on the field. A crane and an escort vehicle are also parked nearby.
The statement comes after dramatic scenes unfolded overnight in the Whiston area, with reports of heavy machinery, lorries and caravans arriving at the site.
Local residents told the ECHO that access to the land appears to have been forced, with a fence reportedly broken to allow entry. One resident described being woken at around 1am by the sound of machinery.
He said: “About one o’clock this morning we could hear heavy machinery. We thought it was roadworks on the motorway but it started alarm bells ringing.
“Then when we woke up this morning, the field on the corner has been totally ripped out. When I was going to work, I couldn’t get down the road. There was about 40 lorries parked all down the road full of stone. It only takes one lorry or even a tractor and the roads are all blocked.
“As I turned left, I could see a load of bulldozers on the field. It looked like a building site. All the grass had been ripped up and they were laying stone down.”
He added that a large number of caravans later arrived in the area. He said: “About an hour ago, the road was jam packed with caravans. Queues and queues of them, at least 25. I’ve never seen anything like it my life. Police have been and gone, and they’re all still there.
“There’s kids hanging off machinery and I’m talking heavy machinery, bulldozers.
“It’s a lot to take in, everyone’s in shock.”
St Helens Borough Council has been approached for comment.
