A 1.5 ACRE patch of land alongside platform one of Sankey for Penketh Station has gone on sale for £100,000.

Residents have been speculating about the future of the site after a planning application was submitted in November for access to the land from Station Road.

The site, which stretches from Station Road to Liverpool Road behind houses on Campbell Crescent, was brought for £18,000 last year.

Cllr Dan Price (LAB - Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall) said: “The strip of land has been privately owned for decades. Since it was sold the whole site has become an eyesore during the bulldozing that has taken place.

“On top of this, I’ve recently become aware that the land is now up for sale for £100,000 and is falsely claiming access from Station road.

“To be perfectly clear, access off Station Road was applied for and completely rejected.

“This site is simply not suitable to be accessed from Station Road and ward councillors will oppose any developments that are dependent on such access. In light of this, I cannot see how a new buyer will ever be found.

“It’s a real mess and especially a shame to those neighbouring residents.”

He added that councillors are keen to meet with the landowner about the issue.

But the owner of the land, who asked not to be named, said it is advertised as having access by foot only.

He said: “Over the period of the land being vacant, some residents have stolen land for their own gardens in small sections. I’m a local lad myself and we are trying to improve the area.

“A councillor spoke with us when we were clearing the land and asked us if we had legal permissions, which we did. We waited for nesting birds before clearing trees and we left a couple of trees that are potential homes for bats.”

He added the land could be used as car parking, a cafe or shops and said the price was set because around £45,000 of work has been done to clear it.