DETAILS of three potential traveller sites in Christchurch have been unveiled.

Members at a full council meeting at Christchurch last night were asked to vote on whether proposals detailing the three potential sites should go out to public consultation.

The only shortlisted site detailed in the proposals is Grange Road Depot in Grange Road, Christchurch, which would ideally house 15 pitches.

Other sites for possible investigation include three plots at Dudmoor Farm Road and land at Hurn Court Farm in Parley Lane, which has been earmarked for 15 pitches.

Both sites set out for further investigation are on Green Belt land but a report to councillors detailing the consultation made clear the sites will only be considered acceptable if special circumstances exist to justify their allocation ahead of non-green belt sites.

The council-owned Grange Road depot, which is currently made-up of industrial units, parking and storage areas, is still in use but according to the proposal, if an alternative site is found, it may be available in the longer term.

The report also stressed the sites contained in the consultation documents are not the ‘definitive list of sites for the borough’.

It said: “Other sites may come forward for consideration as part of the consultation exercise, additional information may be received in respect of the identified sites, which makes them unsuitable to be carried forward.”

Consultants at Baker Associates have also earmarked whether the various plots are suitable for new travellers, Irish travellers or Romany gypsies and the type of provision it will provide.

The nine local authorities in Dorset agreed three years ago to spend up to £250,000 on hiring consultants to look at the issue.

The county’s development plan aims to allocate permanent and transit sites for gypsies, travellers and travelling show people across Dorset for the next 15 years.

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