County steps in over our traveller camps

Until now, illegal camps on public land have been dealt with by Rother District Council (RDC) officers, who are on hand to respond to calls at all hours, including, crucially, at weekends, when many travellers choose to set up.

Cllr Deirdre Williams, of Bexhill Sackville ward, said losing this was a "big concern", adding: "this could virtually give them carte blanche to come in."

The trial period, which will only go ahead if all district and borough councils within East Sussex sign up, sees the East Sussex County Council (ESCC) Traveller Team take control across the county at no extra cost to the taxpayer.

Director of services Tony Leonard said part of the agreement would be ensuring 24-hour cover was provided, but cllrs remained suspicious of ESCC's intentions at a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

"It concerns me quite a lot," said Cllr Robin Patten, "that here is this wonderful organisation that is prepared to do this job at no extra cost. That to me is very scary."

Cllr Williams agreed: "I cannot quite see what is in it for ESCC. Why would they want to do this?"

RDC currently contribute 14,000 a year to ESCC's Traveller Team, and councillors were anxious the new arrangement should cost no more.

Concerned about relations between local district councillors and their constituents breaking down if ESCC took control, Cllr Jenkins said: "Taking our responsibility away and giving it to county diminishes that connection and that is a cause for major concern."

A spokesman from ESCC said: "We hope to pilot this first for a six month period with another District Council and, if successful, and other District and Boroughs agree, we would then roll the initiative out to the rest of the County.

"We want to ensure that we adopt a consistent approach, working in full partnership with other agencies, including Sussex Police; optimising the use of, and access to, Bridie's Tan - the Traveller transit site near Lewes - in its first year of operation. In these days of very tight budgets we are looking across the public sector to rationalise resources and concentrate expertise where we can."

Information on RDC's attitude to travellers can be asked of their Environmental Health team on 01424 787550.