A PUBLIC meeting has been called after fencing was suddenly erected across land in Great Sankey.

It was put up on land owned by developers Wainhomes on land behind Mayfair Close.

Councillors for the area are now trying to get evidence that the land has been used for more than 20 years as a public right of way, in a bid to stop any developments.

They have issued a leaflet asking for photographs of the land being used.

A council source said: "Wainhomes and the borough council don't have the best of relations and we are trying to find out what is going on."

One Great Sankey resident said: "The land has been used for more than 30 years to my knowledge. Children and parents regularly use it to get to Barrow Hall Lane for the schools and the park.

"Now it looks like the whole area is going to be sectioned off. This is of great concern to all in Mayfair Close and the surrounding area as we had not given up on this area being landscaped with paths laid to encourage cycling in the area."

Great Sankey Parish Council has given its informal support to the growing campaign to stop development on the site.

The public meeting is on Wednesday, May 16, at the Tim Parry Community Centre on Cromdale Way between 7pm and 9pm.

Stephen Robinson, from Wainhomes, said: "It's private land. We fenced it off due to dog fouling in this litigious age.

"The planning department has confirmed they are happy with what we have done and we have no plans for its future."

A spokesman for Warrington Borough Council said that erection of the fence was allowed on the site.

But it is currently designated as an urban greenspace and cannot be built on. The council is investigating the rights of way issues.