PLANS to put a gypsy and traveller transit site at Millhams have been shelved after tests showed it would cost too much to make the site safe.

Bournemouth council says it cannot be 100 per cent satisfied that the area, where landfill waste has been buried, would be suitable for people to live on.

The decision means that the three alternative locations at Westbourne, Northbourne and Townsend are now all back in the frame to become travellers sites. Officers will also see if there are any other potential sites they previously missed.

Jessica Davies, manager at Cherry Tree Nursery, a sheltered work project for adults with mental illness, said that if the site in Northbourne next to them was chosen, the project might have to close.

She said: "I work with a group of people who are subject to stigma and often suffer from misunderstanding from the public. Whenever travellers have been camped on the field the volunteers have felt unable to come here.

"Because of the particular nature of our volunteer group I think we wouldn't be able to continue. We absolutely support that the travellers must go somewhere but we feel this isn't the best place."

Cllr Peter Charon, cabinet member for housing and procurement, said: "We have always said that unless and until we were absolutely certain that any site could be made safe for human residence then that site would not be acceptable.

"The council will now be reconsidering the options, including the sites which were identified last year, to see if one of these can accommodate the 12 pitches that we are committed to."

Millhams would require extensive capping' to contain the waste and excavation to make it safe. Despite this the land is safe for use as a local nature reserve and for people to walk on, say the council.

Cllr Roger West, ward councillor for Redhill and Northbourne, welcomed the decision to rule out Millhams but blasted the council for considering the Northbourne site.

He said: "I cannot believe that Cllr Peter Charon is seriously considering thinking about placing a travellers transit site in Northbourne near both the Cherry Tree Nursery and also near Stour Park Residential Park Home site, where so many retired residents live."

Cllr Claire Smith said that the council could have saved themselves money by listening to the residents in the first place.