A TRAVELLER has blasted Lancaster City Council, saying: "I just want to settle down."

Mark Wilson is trying to make a field on Out Moss Lane, Morecambe, into his home - and is fed up that people have complained.

Now the city council is in the process of serving an injunction to kick Mr Wilson, his partner and six children off the site.

"I am fed up with travelling. I just want to settle down with my family and make a home" says Mr Wilson.

"I want to put seven caravans in the field and make the place nice but the council seem not to want that. We are not causing any harm to anyone and not causing a nuisance - but people always complain.

"I am doing work on the land to drain it and make it right for my horses and dogs. I wouldn't care but we are not talking about a site with 40 caravans - there will just be seven for my family.

"I have presented plans to the council and I am just waiting to see what will happen."

The council acted after local residents lodged complaints about the site and a spokesman says: "Two touring caravans have appeared on the site over the weekend but as far as we know they are not lived in yet.

"We did receive several further complaints from residents in the area and are continuing to follow up on the matter.

"We have been very pro-active since we received the first complaint. Planning officers have been on site on three occasions and have spoken to the people who are doing ground works to improve the drainage on the site and claim it is to use the land for stables and their own horses.

"They were told to cease work and put in an application for the drainage works and the stables but advised that a mobile home is not likely to be approved."

She says that three planning applications have been received this week - one for drainage, one for a dwelling and one to use the land for seven mobile homes.

"We have asked the Environment Agency to check the site to see if they have more immediate powers to stop work proceeding in advance of an application," she adds.

"The council's legal service is in the process of serving an injunction to prevent the land being used as a mobile home site and this is now being prepared."

Mr Wilson is annoyed about the threat of action and says: "It's typical. The say they want to help us - yet they are prepared to waste money by taking out an injunction."

o On Monday the Government announced a plan to take faster and more effective enforcement action against the development of unauthorised sites.

Local authorities have been told to find more land for sites where needed - but from this week temporary 'stop notice' regulations can also be issued to block development.

The powers were announced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and Government minister for housing Yvette Cooper says: "We need more appropriate sites along-side swifter enforcement on inappropriate sites.

o What do you think? E-mail matt.donlan@lancaster.newsquest.co.uk or call 01524-520263.