BULLDOZERS due to start preparing the ground for a 112-house estate were stopped in their tracks by a man claiming squatters' rights for his ponies.

Now, in a move to end the dispute, Manchester-based developer Maunders has offered to set part of the site aside for the animals while their owner finds somewhere else to keep them.

Colin Nelson, 69, claims 'squatters rights' on land off Harwood Lane, Great Harwood, which has been earmarked by Hyndburn Council for the new estate.

Mr Nelson, of Allsprings Close in the town, says he has grazed ponies on the land, the site of the former Oxo factory at Record Mill, for 15 years.

And bulldozers from developers Maunders Westbury turned away from the site after Mr Nelson refused to move two ponies from the field where they were due to begin work.

Retired businessman Mr Nelson said: "I'm opposed to this development because we already have traffic jams here and in Clayton-le-Moors and this will just make things worse.

"They were due to start work and knocked on my door, asking me to move the horses.

"But I have kept ponies and cows there for nearly 15 years as a hobby and the ponies have squatters' rights to that land. "The wagons and bulldozers left eventually, but there have been some workmen back to the site since."

Site chiefs were due to meet Mr Nelson this week to discuss the situation but the company, part of Westbury Homes (Holdings) Ltd, intends to begin work before the weekend.

Mr Nelson says he is unhappy with the proposal to fence part of the land off as a temporary home for the horses.

A letter from engineering manager Louis McLoughlin to Mr Nelson states: "We can confirm that Westbury Homes North West are now the owners of the site.

"Currently the site is used by a number of your horses and as a goodwill gesture, we shall arrange for temporary fencing to be erected around part of the development.

"This will enable them to stay temporarily while you find alternative suitable accommodation."

A spokeswoman for the company also confirmed the bulldozers had left the site but were due to return later this week.

Hyndburn Council's director of regeneration Nigel Rix added: "The position from our point of view is that a planning decision has been made and this issue is out of our hands.

"We gave full consideration to the application and local people were given the opportunity to comment in the normal way.

"The use of the Record Mill site is in accordance with government policy on redeveloping brownfield sites instead of Green Belt land."

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