A new travellers' site in Colchester borough is most likely to be built within five kilometres of the A12 and will be named in a matter of weeks.

Last week, the Evening Gazette exclusively revealed an internal town hall report which suggested as many as three travellers' sites may be needed around the borough to replace the existing redundant site at Haven Road.

Yesterday senior councillors and council officers met the press to explain how this search would be more fruitful than last year's attempt to move the travellers, which ended in failure.

Then the council took 18 months to get nowhere after facing stiff opposition from every corner of the borough.

Terry Sutton, (Lib Dem, Berechurch), environment portfolio holder on the council, said a decision on two new sites will be made by September 3.

Consultants have, for a cost of £32,000, provided the council with a test of proposed sites hopefully showing which would best suit the needs of travellers and residents.

Suggestions made by CDN Planning, of Swansea, include the idea that two sites, one permanent, one temporary, are needed. A third may be needed later.

CDN added these should be within five kilometres of the A12, although Mr Sutton said: "If something else comes along outside that meeting the needs of residents and travellers, there should be no reason why we shouldn't accept it."

Published Tuesday, June 17, 2003

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