Plans to use a downland area as a temporary travellers’ site have been rejected by councillors.

The proposals to use Hangleton Bottom as a temporary site for one year while work is carried out on improving Brighton and Hove City Council transit site at Horsdean were rejected at committee last night.

Councillors opposing the move questioned how long the site would be used temporarily and raised concerns about the suitability of the site.

The replacement site is needed because it was deemed unsafe to keep Horsdean open while work was carried out on increasing the number of pitches on the site.

Council officers considered seven other possible sites in the city for the temporary site, including 19 Acres, off Devil’s Dyke Road, 39 Acres, off Ditchling Road, and Coldean Woods, before choosing Hangleton Bottom.

Committee members were warned that the number of unauthorised encampments in the city would increase without a temporary replacement for Horsdean.

At the meeting last night, Labour Councillor Les Hamilton said: “It says in the report its not near any housing but its 80 metres from housing which is probably nearer to housing than the other fringe sites travellers tend to stop.

“The only entrance is from a 50 mph road with no pavement for about 600 yards so I don’t think it will be safe for children.

“A lot of people are concerned that when you say temporary and then spend money on CCTV there’s a temptation to make temporary quite a long time.”

Conservative Councillor Geoffrey Theobald said the council had “missed a trick” in not designating Hangleton Bottom for housing.

Council officers confirmed the site had been considered for the City Plan but rejected because it was earmarked as a waste site.