On day two of the Daily Echo's travellers debate, Paula Roberts asks if authorised stopping sites are the answer to friction between Dorset residents and travellers setting up unauthorised encampments

WHILE local authorities continue to play a game of cat and mouse with groups of travellers, Dorset County Council believes it has found a solution to the problem.

Provided the council can find an area in the county for a temporary stopping site, police have the power to force groups of travellers to move from unauthorised encampments onto the approved site.

This has been made possible thanks to new powers brought in as part of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003, which has amended five clauses in the previous Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

Since the 2003 act came into power Dorset County Council has short-listed four sites it believes are suitable as a stopping area for travellers.

These are a depot at Hardy's Monument near Dorchester, a chipping store at Coombe Keynes near Wool, a chipping store at Stourpaine near Blandford and Conygar Coppice near Okeford Fitzpaine.

But the plans have been met with protests from nearby residents despite the apparent success of a temporary site for travellers and gypsies attending the Great Dorset Steam Fair, near Blandford.

Mike Evans, from Dorset County Council's environmental services, said: "Previously travellers came to Blandford for the fair in relatively large numbers and caused chaos because there was no provision for them.

"This year we have provided a site and the police were able to move the travellers from various nearby areas to that site."

Dorset County Council is now in the process of putting together a planning application for each of the short-listed areas.

Residents will be able to make their observations about each application in the usual way.

Mr Evans added: "The events in Christchurch recently has demonstrated a provision need.

"When the authority gets the eviction organised the travellers disperse and go somewhere else in Christchurch.

"If there had been a proper site somewhere then the police could have said 'you must go to this site'.

"If they hadn't gone there they would have been committing a criminal act and could have been heavily fined or sent to prison," he added.