TOTTINGTON residents are still fighting to keep their "gardens" after receiving notices to vacate the land.

Homeowners on Victoria Street have been maintaining land at the back of their houses since 1930 despite not owning it.

However, after permission was granted for planning in December the residents have now been issued with letters from Savills estate agents informing them they must clear the land.

Craig Bell alongside his wife Karen and mother-in-law Laura Swyers have turned the piece of land at the back of their homes in to a landscaped garden and are refusing to move their possessions.

Mrs Swyers, who has lived in her property 10 years, said: "We don't own the land but we had it through adverse possession. The land owners gave permission for us to use it.

"It's been going on for many years. We asked if they had any plans to build on it and we were told no so we have spent a lot of money on it. I just spent £850 on a shed and now they're telling us we have to remove everything.

"They have been deceitful and I'm not going to move."

Planning permission was granted for applicants Robert Long and Bruce Ballard for three residential units on the land at the rear of Victoria Street by Bury Council despite objections and a petition signed by 49 people.

Mr Bell and Mrs Swyers said they were approached by a company acting on behalf of the landowner to pay a fee for garden licences to keep the land.

Mr Bell, who has lived in his property for 20 years, explained: "My gripe is that we have lived here for 20 years and this land was not maintained. It was overrun and there was rubbish all over the land.

"They asked us to pay for these garden licences and we asked if they were planning on building on there and we were told no. So we paid for it and spent all this money on fences and now they're contradicting themselves."

Charles Lang, of Savills in Clitheroe, commented on behalf of the trust: "The trustees have owned the parcel of land to the west of Victoria Street in Tottington for over 30 years. The land was identified as an opportune site for bringing new homes to the area.

"Outline planning permission for residential development was granted by Bury Council on December 16, 2015 following the submission of an application in October 2015, when local residents were notified as part of the public consultation process.

"In an area where there is a requirement for new homes, this small development provides an opportunity for new households to move into the area and with that support the local community."

Mrs Swyers added: “We are going to continue to fight until the full planning application goes in. We are not giving up."