CHESHIRE East Council (CEC) is searching the borough to find areas to house Gipsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople upon.

CEC has commissioned consultants to undertake a comprehensive study throughout the borough to identify and shortlist potential sites.

Lasting until the end of August, the study is designed to enable the council to meet Government requirements for identifying a five-year supply of Travellers’ sites to reflect the needs set out in the forthcoming revised Gipsy and Traveller Accommodation Study.

A council spokesman said: “The Council is committed to taking a proactive approach in planning for the future provision of sites to meet the needs of the travelling community.

“This study to identify potential sites will provide a robust evidence base to support the development of the Cheshire East Local Plan.”

The study, by Peter Brett Associates, will also be used to tackle unauthorised developments, which are often in unsuitable locations.

In the past, an absence of authorised sites has been used by the courts and the Planning Inspectorate across the country to justify the retention of some unauthorised developments.

The spokesman added that the study will be carried out in accordance with ‘a robust process and in an open and transparent way, to ensure all sites are assessed in a consistent and fair way’.

As a first stage, comments are being invited on the proposed process to help appraise and identify suitable sites.

A ‘call for sites’ is also being undertaken and any suggestions of suitable sites and locations will be welcomed by CEC.

Sites shortlisted will be subject to further public consultation.

The most suitable sites will be recommended to be allocated for Gipsy, Traveller and Travelling Showperson use, and will also then be subject to statutory planning processes.