THREE sites have been shortlisted for proposed gypsy and traveller sites in Weymouth.

And two are situated at prominent ‘gateway’ sites on the outskirts of the town.

It comes after it was announced last month that the county would have to find room for a total of 585-609 residential and transit pitches – with 80-84 required in West Dorset and 29-30 in Weymouth and Portland by 2013.

The initial sites suggested by planning consultants have been revealed a week before the borough council will discuss the choices in the Policy Development Committee on Monday October 17.

The Weymouth sites suggested include the park and ride site, near to the Mount Pleasant Business Park, the redundant land next to the household recycling centre in Lodmoor and South Buckland Farm, near Coldharbour. All the sites are currently publically-owned land.

A further 18 sites in the borough were rejected – including four in Portland – at the initial stages, for a variety of reasons. These included being unsuitable land, the possibility of having a ‘significant negative impact on the landscape or in a restricted Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

However, on hearing the news that his farm was one of the prospective sites 73-year-old Ken Webb, who has been the tenant of South Buckland Farm since 1971, said he was angry that no one had the courtesy to inform him.

He said: “This is the first I’ve heard of it. I certainly don’t want my farm turned into a gypsy site and I doubt any of my neighbours would want it either.

“I’ve already turned part of the farm into a 16-van caravan site and over the years I’ve had the odd gypsy turn up trying their luck but I’ve no idea how much this would affect me.”

Beef farmer Mr Webb was so put out about the proposal that he vowed to leave his family farm – that he has spent 40 years developing – if the council proceeds.

A spokesperson for Dorset County Council, who owns the farm land, said that Baker Associates have made efforts to contact all land owners on the suggested sites but stressed that these are just very early stage proposals and could be subject to change when the plans are reviewed by each council.

Portland resident Neville Walbridge was happy to hear that there were no shortlisted sites on Portland.

The former stone worker said that the four sites which had been rejected were for a good reason because many were too close to stone sites that could be reopened.

He said: “I’m glad Portland has been left alone for once because I don’t think the island can be dumped on anymore.”

Weymouth mum Daphne Grout-Smith, part of the Friends of Radipole Park and Gardens, said she was pleased that her neighbourhood park had not been chosen, after having trouble this summer with an unauthorised encampment.

She said: “I am pleased but also surprised that at the sites that have been chosen because they are all on the outskirts of the borough and they are the first thing tourists and visitors will see.

“It’s not a great impression of the gateway to Weymouth.

“Although I understand that something needs to be done I think by setting up these sites it will just encourage more of them to come here to Dorset.”

Councillors will debate the consultation document at the borough council meeting on Monday, October 17, before residents will be asked to have their say in the formal consultation.

Bulk of cost covered by grants

For more information on the whole process throughout Dorset visit www.dorsetforyou.com/ travellerpitches The consultation for sites in West Dorset will start on November 18 and Weymouth and Portland at a later date.

The consultation process is being run as a joint collaboration by all of the Dorset councils.

Bristol-based planning consultants Baker Associates have been commissioned to carry out the project to identify sites for the next 15 years.

The cost to each authority is £10,000, spread over three years. The bulk of the cost is being met by a grant funding of £150,000 from the Dorset Strategic Partnership and a further £14,000 from the South West Regional Improve-ment and Efficiency Part-nership Innovation Fund.

Each authority will be making financial savings by working together to spread the cost of the consultation.

It is expected that investing in well-run, authorised sites will mean that the cost of evicting gypsies and travellers from unauthorised encampments and the clean up cost will be significantly reduced.

Councils will be offered financial benefits by Government for building authorised sites where they are needed.