CONTROVERSIAL plans to compel councils to build permanent and temporary travellers’ sites are set to be ditched.

The new coalition government has confirmed that decisions on the provision of travellers’ sites will rest with local councils in the future.

Previously, Regional Spatial Strategies had set out requirements for every council to provide a certain number of permanent and transit pitches.

This had caused a particular problem in Bournemouth, where efforts to find a suitable site for travellers proved unsuccessful.

An area of land near the Northbourne roundabout, adjacent to the Cherry Tree Nursery, was considered but ruled unsuitable following strong opposition.

A site between Millhams Tip and Ringwood Road was rejected after environmental tests revealed it would be too expensive to clean up and make safe.

Another option of creating a temporary site near a retired nurses’ home at Riverside Avenue was axed following protests.

And plans to put a site on land off the Wessex Way at Cambridge Road and Suffolk Road were also rejected, to the delight of residents who campaigned against the idea.

Bournemouth Independent Cllr Ron Whittaker welcomed the news: “Hopefully this means authorities like Bournemouth will not be forced into a site and that we can still continue with other authorities to find a site that will not cause distress to the community.”

And Cllr John Beesley, deputy leader of Bournemouth council, said he hoped the government would also strengthen the powers of councils and police forces to deal with illegal encampments.

“Currently, we have to go through a legal process which always delays things. That’s because the national legislation doesn’t give local authorities or the police the power to do something about it immediately.”