RULING Conservatives at East Hampshire District Council have been accused of "surrendering to the electoral timetable" over their handling of the controversial planned short-stay traveller sites. The Conservatives were criticised after putting plans to create the sites on hold just over a month ago. Now the council has announced its quest for a site has been put on ice until at least next summer because of "new announcements at regional level." It said this week that the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) would be looking at the provision of sites across the region next September, as part of its drawing up of the South East Plan. Liberal Democrat leader Tony Ludlow said: "To put the process on hold is to surrender to the electoral timetable instead of using the months ahead in constructive debate. It makes sense to leave a decision until all the information is available, including input from SEERA, but it is bound to take a long time to make such a sensitive decision and it would be sensible to start now." Liberal Democrat Adam Carew, who has recently had to face the problem of travellers setting up camp in his Walldown ward in Bordon, said: "How very politically convenient for the Conserv-atives to delay any further discussion on traveller sites until after the district council elections next May." SEERA, said the council's statement, intended to publish its proposals for how many pitches should be in each district next December, and then hold a 12-week public consultation. Before then councils would be asked to comment on the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers. The council's portfolio holder for development, Patrick Burridge, said: " We still want to identify a short-stay site for travellers because it will help police clear illegal sites on public land. We have already said that we do not want to go it alone, without other councils working with us, in case East Hampshire became a magnet for travellers, so I welcome the opportunity to take part in a regional initiative. It is really important that we get this right and it makes sense to slot into the SEERA timetable."
