Council chiefs hope to open a new site to stop illegal traveller camps setting up in Nantwich and other areas.
More than 75 illegal camps have been reported across Cheshire East this year, with one recently on Barony Park in Nantwich.
Police have not been able to use legal powers to move them as Cheshire East has so far failed to provide a publicly-owned “transit” site where they can directed to.
The camp on Barony Park simply moved a hundred yards on to land at Coronation Gardens when police and council officers arrived to try and move them on in August.
Now Cheshire East has identified a potential site in nearby Middlewich and is negotiating with landowners to buy the plot. This would provide 10 pitches.
A spokesperson for Cheshire East said a recent Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs assessment had identified a requirement of between five and 10 transit pitches.
The Cledford Lane site is now in a pre-application stage of the planning process.
Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “Cheshire East will not tolerate illegal encampments.
“They can have a detrimental impact on an area, resulting in significant clear-up costs – not only for the authority but also for businesses and residents.
“We, however, recognise we have to make provision to enable the Gypsy and Traveller communities, who are passing through, a safe and secure location in which to stay on a temporary basis.”
Cheshire East will manage the new transit site and those located on the site will pay rent and service charges.
Councillor Les Gilbert, Cabinet member in charge of localism and enforcement, said: “Cheshire East is experiencing a substantial rise in the number of illegal encampments across the authority.
“Incidents have more than doubled – with 38 in 2012, 70 last year and 78 so far this year since January – which has had financial implications for the authority and private landowners.
“Failure to make adequate provision could lead to further increased levels of unlawful encampments.
“Cheshire East Council wants to reassure our residents and businesses that we are committed to providing, as a priority, a transit site to reduce the level of illegal encampments and to enable the police to use their powers, under the Criminal Justice and Public Order act 1994, to direct travellers on to more appropriate sites.
“If the travellers refuse to move to such sites they have to leave the local authority area and cannot return for three months.
“While occupying the transit site, they will have to pay for services, including rent.”
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