RESIDENTS of Weymouth and Portland and West Dorset will be able to have their say about potential traveller sites next week.

In a joint consultation West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council will be holding consultations and inviting residents to air their views on the issues opinions surrounding the proposed sites.

There are six sites going forward to consultation.

It comes after the county was told it had to find space for 585-609 residential and temporary sites – with 80-84 required in West Dorset and 29-30 in Weymouth and Portland by 2013.

The two initial sites suggested in the borough of Weymouth and Portland so far include the park and ride sitenear to the Mount Pleasant business Park, and the land next to the household recycling centre in Lodmoor.

Since it was announced a large group of angry residents have vowed to fight the plan for Lodmoor.

Four further sites have been suggested for West Dorset including

• Shady Side, Beaminster

• Piddlehinton Gypsy Site, Piddlehinton

• Land south of West Stafford

• Land east of Coles Lane Yetminster

Robert Gould, leader of West Dorset District Council, said: “As planning authority West Dorset District Council has an important role to play in identifying suitable locations for traveller sites.

“There are many challenges, but in order to solve the problem of unauthorised encampments we need a planning policy in place that offers greater certainty for the travelling community.”

Ian Roebuck, the spokesman for environment and sustainability at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said: “The public consultations give Weymouth and Portland residents the chance to have their say in the future of gypsy and traveller sites in the area.

“The borough council is working together with all the local authorities across Dorset to comply with the requirements defined in 2006 and to identify the best possible locations – within the constraints on development which planning policies impose on everyone – to ensure the needs of gypsies and travellers are met.”

Residents have until February 10 to hand in their responses to the consultation before any decisions are made.

The council say that having properly managed sites can help to reduce with associated anti-social behaviour and limits at the detrimental effects on the travelling communities.

Campaigners have delivered leaflets to householders in the Lodmoor area urging them to take part in the public consultation on proposed traveller sites in the town.

Resident Herminia Wigmore, of the Lodmoor Traveller Site Campaign, said she wants as many people as possible to make comments at the exhibition in the Ocean Room at Weymouth Pavilion.

The leaflet also asks residents to write to their local councillors and South Dorset MP Richard Drax.

Comments can be made online at dorsetforyou.com/travellerpitches.

For more information visit here

PUBLIC CONSULTATION DATES

• Monday, January 9, noon-3pm —The Corn Exchange, Dorchester

• Monday, January 9, 5pm-8pm —The Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion

• Tuesday, January 10, noon-3pm —The Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion

• Tuesday, January 10, 5pm -8pm —Beaminster Town Hall, Beaminster

• Thursday, January 12, 6pm-8pm —St Andrew’s Hall, Yetminster