THE consultation and research into gypsy and traveller sites for Dorset is costing taxpayers £244,000.
The money is being paid to consultants Baker Associates to draw up a Development Plan Document.
The eight district and borough councils are paying £10,000 each.
Another £150,000 comes from the Dorset Strategic Partnership and a further £14,000 from the South West Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP) Innovation Fund.
Work began last year and next month (November) moves onto the public consultation stage.There will be series of public exhibitions, supported by an online questionnaire and printed comments form.
The whole project will take around two to three years, according to Dorset County Council.
The councils say they have a statutory duty to create the DPD under the Housing Act 2004.
The total number of gypsies and travellers in Dorset is estimated at 2,400 to 3,000 but that may underestimate the number of travelling people living in housing.
There are no specific targets for the number of pitches in each area.
Recent estimates of gypsy and traveller need in Dorset are: Bournemouth 48-51, Christchurch 48-51, East Dorset 88-92, North Dorset 165-168, Poole 48-50, Purbeck 79-83, West Dorset 80-84, Weymouth and Portland 29-30.
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