THE capital cost of providing the Saughall site and five others across Cheshire West could be as much as £6,750,000.

Cheshire West and Chester Council says it must increase the number of official pitches to lend strength to its argument when fighting unauthorised Traveller camps in the greenbelt.

The council aims to meet the minimum requirement of 32 pitches, up to a possible 45, at a cost of about £150,000 per pitch.

However, council spokesman Ian Callister said the authority would be seeking to gain the maximum amount of government grant available so the cost is not completely borne by local council taxpayers.

A government good practice guide indicates the high specification of accommodation which it is expected local authorities should provide: “As a general guide, it is possible to specify that an average family pitch must be capable of accommodating an amenity building, a large trailer and touring caravan, (or two trailers) drying space for clothes, a lockable shed (for bicycles, wheelchair storage etc), parking space for two vehicles and a small garden area.”