CONSULTANCY costs amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds for a gypsy and traveller site plan have been criticised by residents.

Figures obtained by the Wyke Regis Community Association- which is opposing a potential site in the area- show the budget transactions for the Dorset gypsy and traveller development plan.

The transaction sheet, seen by the Echo, sets out budget transactions for the financial years of 2010/11 through to 2015/16.

During this time, £236,323 has been paid to consultants who have assisted in preparing the plan.

Funding for the plan has principally come from the DCLG (Local Area Agreement) Grant, the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships fund, and an equal share of contributions from district and unitary councils.

Louise Mason, chairman of the Association, said: "Using a Freedom of Information request we felt we needed to tell the public what has been spent so far."

The request reveals both Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and West Dorset District Council have contributed £21,250 towards the plan.

Meanwhile, Dorset County Council has agreed to hold £93,172, which remains in the budget.

The plan is also known as the Dorset-Wide Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations (including Travelling Showpeople) Joint Development Plan Document (DPD).

Eight potential sites for permanent or transit traveller sites have been identified as part of the plan, which has been in development since 2011.

One of the sites shortlisted is the former Army camp off Mandeville Road, Wyke Regis, where six potential residential plots exist.

The Wyke Regis Community Association formed following great unrest and opposition to the proposal.

A consultation report published in March last year showed there were 169 objections to the former Army camp site, backed by a petition containing 724 signatures.

Louise said: "We are still on the list and we can't work out why. It seems a waste of time to us.

"Our end game is we need to get Wyke Regis off the list."

The current timetable for the DPD states it will take until the end of 2016 for the plan to be adopted.

Discussing the plan's progress, Louise said: "It doesn't seem to have made any progress for the amount of money that has been spent.

"We don't really know where it's going from here."

Louise said the Association was planning to have a meeting with South Dorset MP Richard Drax and West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin to discuss the matter further.

A Dorset County Council spokesperson said decisions surrounding how the plan will progress and use of remaining funds will be a decision for the district, borough and unitary councils.

The spokesperson said: "We are not providing any funding towards it.

"The decision was taken by the districts to commission consultants to help prepare a statutory development plan, because local authorities need to demonstrate they are planning for future housing needs, including those of travellers.

"The consultants have now completed the site identification and assessment work and the districts and boroughs are committed to progressing the development plan."

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