Transit site plans for travellers

Up to 12 traveller families would be allowed to stay a maximum of one month at the new site, which the three councils involved say would ease the pressure caused by fleets of caravans arriving on the south coast during the summer months.

Worthing is also to be considered in the search for one or more new camps, after a county council report in January highlighted a shortage of transit sites around the two coastal towns.

Officials have warned councillors there could be difficulties "selling" the idea of a transit site to local residents.

But, in a joint report to Arun, Worthing Borough and West Sussex County councils, Paul Unsworth, Arun's head of environmental services, pointed out there would be significant benefits from lower costs, reduced damage to the environment and disruption to residents, and more speedy and effective removal of illegal encampments.

The cost of dealing with illegal camps, including forcibly removing travellers and clearing up afterwards, was 42,000 two years ago and 25,000 last year. Residents and all three councils had been significantly affected by an increase in such problems over the past few years, said Mr Unsworth.

Councillor Stephen Brookman, Arun cabinet member for the environment, questioned whether 12 places would be enough.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Monday, when the issue was discussed, he said: "We know, anecdotally, that often you get more than 20 families turning up in Arun, maybe up to 40 families. Twelve places may not be enough to cope with a sudden influx."

Co-operation between the authorities was critical, said Mr Brookman, and there needed to be firm commitment from the police to act in the case of illegal encampments.

Funding to set up the site '“ around 100,000 '“ would be met by central Government, but the three councils will have to pay the annual running costs of 30,000, although travellers staying on a site would be charged fees.

In his report, Mr Unsworth said the existing situation was unsatisfactory. "Powers to respond to illegal encampments and their impacts are available but, in practice, are difficult to adminis