Forest of Dean consultation on potential traveller sites

People in the Forest of Dean are being asked for their views on which locations in the county might be suitable for use as travellers' sites.

Forest of Dean District Council is currently working to identify a sufficient number of sites to "meet the identified need".

Members of the local community, landowners and organisations are being invited to offer suggestions.

A formal consultation will run for eight weeks from Monday.

Cabinet member for planning policy, Brian Robinson said: "We are asking people to put forward sites for us to consider because we need to make sure that we have sufficient accommodation available to meet the needs of our gypsy, traveller and travelling show people communities."

The authority is inviting people to download an Allocations Development Plan submission form at its website in order to contribute ideas.

The government's planning policy for traveller sites, published in a report in March 2012, states that local authorities should provide enough pitches to meet the needs of travellers in their area.