GREEN belt land in Little Lever could be used as a permanent site for the travelling community.

Adverts asking for interest from the gypsy and travelling community in a “five- acre site South Bolton” has been identified as land next to the canal in Little Lever.

Their publication has prompted Bolton Council to speak with the landowner and his agents.

Officers say they spoke about a variety of uses for the land, including “leisure and recreational, mixed, housing and gypsy accommodation”.

The advert asked for interest from the travelling community “from whole-site sale to pitch rental. Transit or permanent”, but there is a fear that the advert will lead to travellers camping on the land without permission.

A letter sent to ward councillors by Tim Hill, Bolton’s chief planning officer, said: “It is too early to speculate about what might be the outcome of this limited marketing exercise, or how it might be used to shape any submissions we might receive.”

The letter added that the site on green belt land would make it difficult to allow housing or gypsy accommodation in the area, unless the owner could outline any “exceptional circumstances”.

And it pointed out there could be “implications of there being an interest in the site from travellers for unauthorised encampments”.

Cllr Sean Hornby said: “My fear is that now this advert has gone out, it will encourage travellers to come on the land without authorisation.

“It is green belt land and plans should be to develop it into a recreation area.”

A spokesman for Bolton Council said no planning application has been received for the land.

schaudhari@theboltonnews.co.uk