THE FIRST set of proposed traveller sites for the county has been revealed.

A new blueprint has earmarked 12 sites in West Dorset as possible locations for gypsies and travellers..

It is estimated that 585-609 residential and transient pitches are needed in Dorset – with 80-84 required in West Dorset and 29-30 in Weymouth and Portland.

The sites are at Broadmayne, West Stafford, Stinsford, Piddlehinton, Sydling St Nicholas, Evershot, Rampisham, Bridport, Leigh, Yetminster and two at Beaminster.

The announcement comes after all of Dorset’s eight borough and district and unitary councils came together to resolve problems with illegal gypsy and traveller camps plaguing the county.

The plans to implement transient and residential sites were welcomed by Chief Inspector Nick Maton of Dorset Police who said that the move will give officers extra powers to move travellers from illegal unauthorised sites.

The initial proposals were revealed at a press conference yesterday where West Dorset District Council leader Robert Gould said: “This is an important issue and one that matters to the county.

“The issue presents challenges for us all but we cannot solve the ongoing problem of unauthorised camping and development unless we have a planning policy that gives greater certainty for both settled and travelling communities.”

All the councils will be meeting over the next month to endorse the public consultation process and revealing the initial shortlist of sites for each area.

The first meeting will be held by West Dorset District Council’s Policy Scrutiny Committee on September 27 and if members approve the shortlist of sites then members of the communities will be invited to have their say.

Chief Insp Maton said that the only current authorised site used as part of Operation Elder for the Great Dorset Steam Fair has been a great success and decreased the number of illegal encampments from 17 to 11.

“When these sites come into action it means that we will have the power to move the travellers on from unauthorised sites to authorised sites, which is something that we cannot currently do.”

Planning officer Lynda King said that Dorset was leading the way by combining the efforts of all the councils in order to come up with a solution. It is a requirement of all councils as part of the Housing Act 2007 and the need was identified in the Regional Spatial Strategy.

It was estimated in 2007 that the number of travellers in the county could be between 2,400 and 3,000 but this will be confirmed during the consultation process.

Mrs King said: “There will be transient sites which will have hard stands, water and electricity supply plus sanitation and waste disposal.”

She said that the travellers will be required to pay for the facilities and in other areas such as Bristol, the local authority has saved half a million pounds by not having to pay for waste disposal and clean up of unauthorised sites.

For the residential sites the tenants will be required to pay council tax.

Mark Russell from Bristol based planning consultants Baker Associates, who have been commissioned by the councils for this project, said: “We are looking at identifying sites for the next 15 years and it is most important that the sites are suitable, achievable and viable.

“At this stage we have been in discussions with landowners and have assessed more than 300 sites.”

There are currently four council owned sites in Dorset and Poole, near Blandford , Wareham, at Tower Park and Piddlehinton.

For more information on the sites and consultations visit www.dorsetforyou.com/travellerpitches

Click the link to view a map of the proposed sites:

Proposed West Dorset sites for travellers.pdf

WHEN AUTHORITIES WILL DECIDE

Dates of council meetings for each authority Tuesday, September 27: West Dorset District Council Wednesday, September 28: East Dorset District Council Monday, October 3: North Dorset District Council Monday, October 3: Borough of Poole Monday, October 10: Bournemouth Borough Council Monday, October 17: Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Tuesday, October 18: Christchurch Borough Council