Plans for two pieces of land to be used as temporary stopping sites for travellers look likely to be scrapped.

Instead council chiefs are expected to make a 'call for sites' where landowners can put private land in Thanet forward to be considered for 'tolerated' pitches.

Tolerated sites allow unauthorised traveller camps for an agreed amount of time, which makes it easier for management of amenities, such as toilet provision, reducing the impact on the local area.

Council-owned land at Potten Street in St Nicholas-at-Wade, Tivoli Brooks in Margate and Ramsgate Port had initially been put forward, but the latter two were dropped in favour of a plot off Shottendane Road in Margate.

Concerns were raised and a petition launched by Cllr Reece Pugh, who represents Thanet villages, who warned the sites were not safe for children to live.

Now, cabinet members look set to discuss a possible 'call for sites' at a meeting next week, with Potten Street and Shottendane Road plans put on hold.

A report to councillors says there has been significant interest by residents and stakeholders regarding the suitability of sites.

"The identification of possible temporary stopping sites has previously been restricted to land owned by Thanet District Council, a change in process has the potential to widen the scope for other sites to be identified.

"The Local Plan has recently been adopted and is now subject to a review process.

"Part of this process has a defined consultation and the ability to place a general call to landowners to put forward sites for specific uses.

"This process begins with site searches to be included in the local plan, this is called a ‘call for sites’ to find out what is genuinely available for development and includes private land as well as TDC land."

Cllr Pugh says he is delighted at the decision to drop the Potten Street and Shottendane Road proposals.

"This process needs to be transparent and completely open to scrutiny from the public and the Local Plan Review will allow this to happen," he said.

"This is a relief for residents in St Nicholas-at-Wade and Garlinge and for the traveller community I'm sure, who will not be required to stay at an unsafe site.

"The proposals were flawed from the beginning and risked the misuse of public money through public consultations when Thanet council already knew the considerable opposition from residents.

"I have no doubt that the petition went some way to helping Thanet council realise that the two sites were not the best options.

"If agreed by cabinet next week, I will be watching closely which land is offered for this purpose to ensure that we do not have a repeat of this."

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