The owner of a waste disposal yard in Macclesfield has rubbished claims he is planning to set up a gypsy camp.
Dozens of leaflets have been delivered to homes, shops and businesses on the Moss estate claiming Henshaws Waste Management depot will become ‘the new Dale farm’.
The leaflet, which has no contact details, says: "Stop our new neighbours!
"The latest suggestion in regards to the use of the Henshaws site,150 Moss Lane, Macclesfield, is to transform the waste disposal site into a home for hundreds of travellers.
"Do we really want Henshaws to become the new Dale Farm?
"If travellers were brought onto the large site we would be faced with disruption 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"We need to put a stop to this!" But the firm’s founder, Joe Henshaw, 56, said the claim is completely untrue.
He told the Express: "I originate from a gypsy family and we have a got a few caravans on here.
"But someone has put two and two together and got five. There is definitely no gypsy caravan site coming here."
He says there are currently around 10 caravans on the site which some staff live in while they are working – though he says they will be gone by Christmas.
He said officials from Cheshire East Council have been to check out the claims made in the leaflet but he has told them they are completely unfounded.
"I have told the council its rubbish.
"Someone has seen Dale Farm on the TV and jumped to the wrong conclusion."
Mr Henshaw is currently at the centre of a planning row after applying to increase the size of his waste depot and increase its operating hours to seven days a week – which he says will create 20 new jobs.
But about 75 local residents have signed a petition and wrote letters to the council objecting saying it will increase noise and disruption in the area.
He now says he is considering whether to put up Christmas lights at his yard this year. The firm traditionally puts up lights between the two yards at 140 and 150 Moss Lane, at a cost of around £20,000.
However, Mr Henshaw says he may abandon them this year for fear of further upsetting neighbours. He said: "We used to have a grand opening and kids would come along and have selection boxes. I thought the neighbours used to like it. But if they are complaining about traffic levels I’m thinking I won’t this time as it will bring too much traffic down here."
Cheshire East council confirmed an officer had visted the site to speak to Mr Henshaw and as far as they were concerned, there was nothing in the claims in the leaflets.
