West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council will hold five of the events to invite views on the issues and options of the proposed sites.
The public have been invited to have their say on the proposals since consultation began on 18 November and will be able to make comments until 10 February.
Planning authorities across Dorset are working together with Dorset County Council to produce a Development Plan Document. It is hoped that the partnership will drive costs down and resolve any cross-boundary issues.
The plan will seek to allocate permanent and transit sites to meet the county’s needs for the next 15 years.
Gypsies and Travellers are protected from discrimination by the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Human Rights Act 1998, together with all ethnic groups who have a particular culture, language or values.
Local authorities are obliged by the government to look at providing land for Traveller sites if shown the sites are needed.
In 2006, the Dorset Traveller Needs Assessment identified the need for additional Traveller pitches across Dorset for the years 2011-26.
Consultants Baker Associates were tasked to identify and assess potentially suitable locations against strict criteria, in order to draw up a shortlist of options to put forward to each council.
All the partner authorities agreed that, on receiving such a list, they would put it out to residents for consultation, without endorsing or recommending any of the sites.
Having enough authorised sites assists the police in using special powers to move Travellers who camp illegally on private or public land.
Properly managed sites can help to reduce problems with associated anti-social behaviour and limits the detrimental effects on travelling communities’ health, education and well-being.
Robert Gould, Leader of West Dorset District Council, said: “As a planning authority, West Dorset District Council has an important role to play in identifying suitable locations for Traveller sites. There are many challenges, but in order to solve the problem of unauthorised encampments we need a planning policy in place that offers greater certainty for the travelling community.”
Ian Roebuck, Brief Holder for Environment and Sustainability at Weymouth & Portland Borough Council said: “The public consultations give Weymouth and Portland residents the chance to have their say in the future of Gypsy and Traveller sites in the area.
“The borough council is working together with all the local authorities across Dorset to comply with the requirements defined in 2006 and to identify the best possible locations – within the constraints on development which planning policies impose on everyone – to ensure the needs of Gypsies and Travellers are met.”
The public consultations will take place on:
- 9 January 12-3pm—Corn Exchange, Dorchester
- 9 January 5-8pm—The Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion
- 10 January 12-3pm—The Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion
- 10 January 5-8pm—Beaminster Town Hall, Beaminster
- 12 January 6-8pm—St Andrew’s Hall, Yetminster
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