ALL 23 potential gypsy and traveller sites in Poole will go out to public consultation as the council renews its appeal for alternative land.

Borough of Poole’s cabinet has agreed to go ahead with the next stage of a Dorset-wide consultation on sites considered by independent planning consultants Baker Associates.

Cllr Mike White, deputy leader of the council with responsibility for planning, said: “We’ve agreed to go forward to the next stage of the consultation process with a full list of all the Poole sites considered by the consultants.

“However the council has no preferred options and does not endorse any of the sites.”

He said: “We agree that none of the sites provide an ideal solution. However, current government legislation requires us to identify a site within Poole to meet the needs of the travelling community.

“For this reason, the council would be willing to consider other sites that have not yet been identified. We would particularly welcome suggestions from private landowners who may be able to help us identify potential sites that could help meet this need.”

The 20 “rejected” sites will be listed alongside the three shortlisted, after the council’s economy overview and scrutiny committee recommended there should be no preferred options.

These had been put forward as Lodge Hill at Canford Heath, Branksome Triangle and the former community centre site in Turlin Road, Hamworthy.

“Committee members raised significant concerns as to the three shortlisted sites highlighting discrepancies,” said Cllr Brian Clements, chairman of the economy overview and scrutiny committee, in his report.

“Concern was also expressed as to criteria applied in respect of the rejection of 20 other sites. Members recommended that, in the interests of transparency, all sites identified in the consultant’s report be included in the proposed public consultation leaflet and endorsed the view that the leaflet seeks to identify other alternative council or privately-owned sites.”

Poole needs to provide eight pitches and there will be 12 weeks’ public consultation at this stage.

The potential sites

• Darby’s Lane North

• Two sites south of Magna Road

• Yarrow Road

• Longmeadow Lane

• Park & ride, Creekmoor

• North of Willet Road

• Beach Road car park

• Land off West Quay Road

• Yarrow Close

• Four fields stretching north from Upton Road to Northmead Drive

• Southwood Farm, Arrowsmith Road

• Poole Stadium lorry park

• A car park at Seldown Bridge

• Penn Hill car park

• Former power station site, Hamworthy

• Former Hamworthy First School site

• Willett Road

• Ashington Lane

• Merley Park Road

• Branksome Triangle

• Lodge Hill, Canford Heath

• Turlin Road, Hamworthy

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