DORSET County Council’s cabinet has agreed not to object to areas of land in West Dorset being considered for gypsy and traveller sites.

The authority was asked for its response to the consultation which includes proposals for sites at the former army camp at Wyke Regis and on land at Piddlehinton.

Presenting the report to the meeting at County Hall in Dorchester, Cllr Peter Finney, cabinet member for environment and the economy, emphasised that councillors were being asked for their comment, not for a decision.

Addressing the cabinet, Cllr Mike Byatt, who represents Weymouth on the county council, said he was aware of a number of concerns of residents over the Wyke Regis site, which falls within the West Dorset borders.

Chairing the meeting, Cllr Spencer Flower said DCC is not the planning authority on this matter.

He added: “It is simply a case of whether the county council feels the site, having been offered by the landowner, is appropriate.

“If there are no concerns we have to let it go forward into the planning process or there could be legal challenges. It is a matter for West Dorset to deal with.”

The response to the former army camp site in the report and agreed by cabinet states: “Subject to it being possible to resolve satisfactorily any issues relating to the impact of development on local landscape character, the visual impact on the Heritage coast and the residential amenity of adjacent properties, Dorset County Council would not raise objection to the continued inclusion of the site in the DPD process.

“The county council’s preference would be for the site to be used as a temporary transit site from March to September with the site being returned to grazing use during the winter months.”

Cabinet also agreed not to raise objections to the Piddlehinton site being considered, subject to access to the Enterprise Park being maintained and the site being used by travelling show people only.

Similarly, no objections were raised to the inclusion in the consultation of a single plot at Old Chapel Yard in Marshwood and two pitches at land west of West Stafford.

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