A BOURNEMOUTH MP has urged councillors to dismiss the suggestion of locating traveller sites on green belt land and instead act to protect it for future generations.

Tobias Ellwood, who represents Bournemouth East, collected 1,000 signatures against plans to develop three permanent traveller sites in the town’s green belt and delivered copies to 10 Downing Street, the House of Commons and Bournemouth Town Hall.

In handing it to the council, he told them the government’s advice on building on green belt allowed them to reject the proposals for Erlin Farm, Careys Road and Throop Road ‘with confidence’.

Mr Ellwood said advice published this week by the Department of Communities and Local Government ‘clearly stated’ that councils should protect green belt land.

“I hope this will give the council confidence that they can throw this out knowing that Westminster will not oblige Bournemouth to build on the green belt,” he said.

“This petition was all about us as custodians of the green belt, defending this open space for future generations.

“That means not building houses, not building supermarkets, not building cinemas, not building traveller sites, not building anything.

“It wasn’t about denying travellers their ability to have a traveller site, it was about the fact that the green belt is sacrosanct. I hope we’ve taken a major step forward with that this week.”

The three green belt sites were among those put forward by consultants Bakers Associates, who were tasked with finding possible locations across Dorset.

They suggested residential pitches could be put on land near Erlin Farm on Muscliffe Lane, five residential pitches could go on Careys Road off Broadway Lane and eight residential pitches could go on land on the edge of urban development at Throop Road.

Consultation has now closed on the plans and it will be up to individual councils to decide the way ahead.