DISUSED MoD land in Bordon would provide the best location for a permanent site for travellers, according to a Petersfield town councillor.
For at MondayÕs meeting of Petersfield Town Council, Chris Jenner, said if East Hampshire District Council had to allocate land for travellers to use, then disused Ministry of Defence land in Bordon would be the best option.
The suggestion came after members were told that if proposed government legislation is given the go-ahead, county councils and district councils will have to provide a purpose-built site in the their area to be used by travellers.
And by giving the travelling community a number of sites across the UK, the government hopes to save British taxpayers millions of pounds currently being spent on clean-up operations and the policing of illegal sites.
Mr Jenner felt that by placing the travelling site in Bordon it would cause the least amount of damage to the public.
He said that the town had Òvarious piecesÓ of MoD land Òtucked awayÓ, which he was sure would provide an ideal spot for a travelling site.
He did concede that local residents would not welcome the idea and he did not like the thought of having one in the district himself. But if East Hampshire had to have one then it should be Òtucked awayÓ.
Town councillors were told that if the government proposals were given the green light, and the district council was willing to set aside a site for travellers, the local police would be given more powers to evict ÒillegalÓ travellers from other sites in the district.
But if the district council failed to provide a site the police would not be given these extra powers.
Speaking after the meeting district councillor for Bordon and Whitehill, Zoya Faddy, said she was shocked at Mr JennerÕs suggestion.
ÒThere is very little land in Bordon and Whitehill for the facilities we need,Ó she said.
ÒWe need more shops, more recreational facilities and more employment opportunities. We have probably the largest population in East Hampshire and we donÕt have the facilities that Petersfield and Alton have.
ÒOur priority as councillors is to do everything in our power to bring the facilities to our area but for that you need land and this is what we lack.
ÒIf any land does become available our priority must be for the people of Bordon and Whitehill.Ó
And she said she would not support Mr JennerÕs suggestion for the siting of a permanent site for travellers in the town.
ÒI have nothing against travellers. I mean some of my friends come from that same background and have settled down in the town very well. But I just donÕt think Bordon is the right place for a travellerÕs site,Ó said Mrs Faddy.