FURIOUS residents have been turning phonelines red hot as they learn about possible traveller sites in Poole.

A shortlist of three sites have been revealed by Borough of Poole at Lodge Hill at Canford Heath, which is home to Montacute special school, Turlin Road, Hamworthy and the Branksome Triangle.

Borough of Poole has to provide eight pitches for travellers and these three council-owned sites have been identified following a consultant’s report.

“I have had a lot of calls from residents. They are furious,” said Turlin Moor resident, Julie Bagwell, who is the independent chairman of Hamworthy Safer Neighbourhood.

“I think I have been able to allay their fears,” she said of the contaminated, landfill site. “The quote to clean it up was £1.5 million. If the council couldn’t clear the land for a community centre and housing, then I think this is a bit far fetched.”

Cllr Phil Eades, who represents Branksome West for the Liberal Democrats, said: “The consultants employed by the local councils could hardly have found worse sites in Poole if they had tried.”

He said the most obvious site of all, the Creekmoor park and ride, built with public money, had been excluded (it was among 20 sites ruled out).

“It is a scandal that more public money will be spent providing gypsy and traveller facilities elsewhere while this site lies idle. Local residents in Branksome will seriously fear parking chaos if the LV park and ride site at Branksome Triangle is re-designated as a traveller transit site.”

And he called for a joint scheme where local authorities could find a site the whole area could use.

Canford Heath councillors Sandra Moore and Chris Matthews, both Lib Dems, will be calling for Lodge Hill to be removed from the list at Monday’s economy overview and scrutiny committee.

“It’s an inappropriate site,” said Cllr Moore. “It has a better purpose, it’s education land and it’s open to me to do that. Montacute School has wanted to rebuild for many years and you can’t move kiddies with profound and multiple difficulties into temporary accommodation.”

Cllr Matthews said: “I am very concerned about the school site but there is also the community resource of the swimming pool as well, which is very popular and used by disabled people.”

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