SIXTEEN other sites for travellers were looked at before BCP Council settled on Branksome Triangle, it has been revealed. 

BCP Council considered nine sites in Poole as a permanent site to place travellers, four were considered in Bournemouth and three were considered in Christchurch. 

Sites include two car parks in Christchurch near the beach, an old park and ride site in Creekmoor and Wessex Fields. 

Bournemouth Echo: Branksome TriangleBranksome Triangle (Image: Phil Broadhead)

The list includes: 

  • Cabot Lane, Poole 
  • Southcote Road, Springbourne 
  • Hatch Pond, Nuffield 
  • Land north of A35 Creekmoor, Poole 
  • Creekmoor Park and Ride, Poole 
  • Park Road/Lansdowne Road car park, Bournemouth 
  • Roeshot Hill Nursery site, Christchurch 
  • Broadwaters, Southbourne 
  • Former Power Station, Hamworthy 
  • Wessex Fields, Bournemouth 
  • Steamer Point car park, Friars Cliff, Christchurch 
  • Southcliffe Road car park, Friars Cliff, Christchurch 
  • Land north of Wessex Gate retail park, Poole 
  • Stadium site, Poole 
  • Branksome triangle, Poole 
  • Turlin Moor, Hamworthy

Bournemouth Echo: Creekmoor park and rideCreekmoor park and ride (Image: Newsquest)

The sites have been published via an FOI, submitted by resident Daniel Parkin, ahead of the draft local plan is put out to consultation in March. 

According to BCP Council, a local plan working group met on six occasions during autumn with the topic of traveller sites coming up in two of them. 

The “informal” group was made up of cross party councillors, including Cllrs Sandra Moore, Mark Howell, Margaret Phipps, David D’orton-Gibson, Kieron Wilson and Patrick Canavan. 

BCP Council has said more details around why the other sites were not taken forward as potential sites will be published in March in the local plan. 

Bournemouth Echo: Steamer Point car park, Christchurch was also consideredSteamer Point car park, Christchurch was also considered

Residents and ward councillors have been attempting to stop BCP Council from using Branksome Triangle as a site for travellers. 

As reported, council leader Vikki Slade said the new Local Plan, which is still being drawn up, must accommodate all people – including travellers.  

She said in summer 2023, the authority turned to council landholdings for potential sites and that “several” sites were assessed. 

Read more: Other traveller sites 'looked at' before Branksome Triangle

Read more: Travellers set up unauthorised camp on old power plant site

However, the one in Branksome met “all the relevant criteria with its own access with limited impact on neighbouring homes and without other restrictions”, she insisted. 

But ward councillors Phil Broadhead and Karen Rampton have been bringing up the matter hoping to remove Branksome Triangle as a potential site. 

Cllr Broadhead said the consultation period will be “one final, last-ditch effort” to save the site. 

Meanwhile Cllr Rampton added the site is “smack bang in the middle of a residential area and close to some precious protected spaces”. 

Part of this site is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) meaning that the impact of developments must be assessed and mitigated.