Plans to build travellers' sites in Leicester to be reviewed

Plans to build three new travellers sites in Leicester are going to be reviewed before any decision is made.

The city council wants to build three authorised sites in and around Birstall.

Today Leicester's City Mayor Peter Soulsby asked for a thorough review of all the proposed sites to check whether there any viable alternatives.

He has also asked for details of officers’ earlier investigations to be published on the council’s website so that city and county residents can see the full extent of thework done so far.

He said: “Having listened to the concerns raised, and taken account of the comments our consultation has generated, before taking any decisions I want people to be assured that we have explored every possible opportunity in finding suitable sites.

He continued: “Although our aim was to have these much-needed sites in place as soon as possible, the funding will still be available to us if we extend our search and consultation to ensure we have been as thorough as we possibly can.

“The scrutiny commission has already asked for details of all of the areas identified. I have now asked them to carry out a thorough review of them all, with a view to establishing whether there are alternatives available to the ones the officers have identified for consultation”.

The council will be publishing the details of the 350 areas it identified at the start of its search.

All are on council-owned land.