CARAVANS have been banned from arriving on a piece of land under a High Court injunction obtained amid growing fears the area could be turned into a Gypsy camp.
The 'indefinite' order prevents the vehicles setting up on the site off Biddulph Road, Fegg Hayes, near to the Chatterley Whitfield roundabout.
It also prohibits building materials being brought to the site.
The injunction was obtained by Stoke-on-Trent City Council as Staffordshire Police maintain a 24-hour watch on the land.
It comes after the site was left an eyesore when bulldozers unexpectedly ripped out fences and pulled down trees.
The unauthorised work was carried out as rumours intensified that the area is to become a permanent Gypsy site.
Temporary traffic lights and barriers have now been put up around the entrance to the site in readiness for road maintenance, which the council says is necessary following the unauthorised works.
Around 60 residents turned up to a public meeting at Whitfield Valley Centre last night to raise concerns.
Harmesh Jassal, strategic manager for planning and building control at the city council, said: "Significant works took place at the site over the weekend of February 18 and the council served a temporary stop notice to prevent any further activity.
"We have now been to the High Court in London and got an indefinite injunction, which does not have a time limit on it, but the land owner can appeal.
"The injunction prohibits any materials from being imported to the site and prevents the placement of caravans, but doesn't ban people from the site.
"If they break the injunction they will be in contempt of court and can face imprisonment or a hefty fine."
The order comes as it was revealed police are visiting the site up to 12 times a day to monitor the situation.
PC Glyn Talbot said: "The land is under 24-hour CCTV surveillance and if someone pulls up at the gates in a car, we go straight down there.
"In the last couple of weeks we have been visiting the site every two hours and keeping a log of everything.
"If the injunction is broken, the police can deal with the situation."
A planning application has been lodged with the council to demolish Verdun House, which is on the same site, and construct a detached dormer bungalow.
The site already has planning permission for a two-storey dwelling but on a much smaller scale than the latest application. The land is, in part, private and council-owned.
Residents made it clear they didn't want a Gypsy camp on their doorstep.
Len Ball, aged 84, who has lived in Fegg Hayes for more than 50 years, said: "The police and the council shouldn't have allowed to get it to this stage."
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