A GYPSY site is under consideration on Chester’s outskirts.
The camp, with up to 15 pitches, is proposed at Rushton’s Yard on New Bridge Road, Little Stanney.
Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council has earmarked £110,000 to enable a start to be made on the provision of a site in the borough as a priority but says this is also dependent on external funding.
It has not yet decided if the site would be residential or transit.
Officials say the provision of a site would deal with the needs of Gypsies and Travellers in Ellesmere Port and Neston.
A county wide assessment believes there is a requirement for between five and 10 pitches in the borough by 2011.
Councillors have heard that due to the lack of a permanent site, Ellesmere Port and Neston is the “number one hot spot” in Cheshire for problems arising from unauthorised encampments.
There can be “tensions” between Gypsies and Travellers and the settled community.
The council and the police are said to incur “considerable expense” in dealing with unauthorised encampments and their aftermath.
Councillors say they have been “frustrated” at the length of time the project has taken and have expressed their “disquiet”.
A report reveals that consultations have been carried out with a group of Travellers.
Businesses have had several meetings with the council requesting a solution to the problem of unauthorised camps on their land.
It comments: “As with so many other aspects of the lives of Gypsies and Travellers, the lack of a site impacts adversely on the life chances of the children and young people within the Gypsy and Traveller community”.
The government has now invited bids for funding for new sites and improvements to existing sites and councillors have been recommended to endorse the submission of a bid.
The borough council says there would be detailed public consultation on any planning application.
