Local landowners are still being urged to suggest sites for potential gypsy and traveller pitches in Sevenoaks as the closing date approaches.

Sevenoaks District Council is continuing to welcome suggesestion as they are still working to identify and finalise 72 additional pitches, on top of the exisitng 89 sites already in the area.

The first stages of the proposal considered potential for new pitches in Ash, Crockenhill, Edenbridge, Farningham, Halstead, Hextable, Shoreham, Swanley and West Kingsdown.

Public comment on the sites was welcomed by the council during consultation and was closed on Friday July 4.

A range of drop in sessions were held throughout June in an attempt to raise public awareness and welcome suggestions.

A spokesman for Sevenoaks District Council said: “The consultation on the ‘Gypsy and Traveller Plan’, which considered the potential for new pitches in a handful of areas received in excess of 500 comments.”

The consultation will be reported to the council Cabinet on Thursday September 11.

The council is required by the Government to identify and cater for the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers.

Independent experts from Salford University were brought in to carry out research and concluded that the district requires these additional 72 pitches up to 2026.

If the Council is unable to identify sufficient new pitches it will run the risk of losing planning appeals for gypsy and traveller sites effectively having little or no control over their future location.

“Local landowners can put forward additional gypsy traveller sites for our consideration” - Cllr Robert Piper

Cllr Robert Piper, the Council’s Cabinet member for Planning, says: “We are duty-bound to identify additional sites for gypsies and travellers.

“Local landowners can put forward additional gypsy traveller sites for our consideration."

Consultations on the most appropriate plots is currently under way and the call for additional sites is due to end Friday July 18 at 5pm.

To put forward a site for consideration, call the Planning Policy Team on 01732 227000 or e-mail planning.policy@sevenoaks.gov.uk