An MP has called for Brighton and Hove to follow in the footsteps of a town which has banned illegal traveller encampments.

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown, has urged Brighton and Hove City Council to mirror the example of Essex County Council and Harlow Council in successfully getting an interim High Court injunction for the town.

Harlow's injunction applies to 35 named travellers and means 454 parcels of land across the town will be protected from current and future illegal encampments.

Mr Kirby MP said: “The issue is a real problem and is one I have been urging the council to take seriously for a long time.

“It is clear that options are available to councils if they choose to pursue them and I would urge ours to follow this example and seek an injunction for sensitive sites in our area.”

Mr Kirby MP has held public meetings on unauthorised traveller encampments and presented a petition to the House of Commons.

He added: “Too often it feels like the needs and wishes of the existing community are ignored on this issue.

“Any such injunction would be about protecting our vulnerable open spaces, upholding the law and responding and listening to the concerns of residents and businesses.”

His Conservative counterpart in Hove, Mike Weatherley, said travelling communities should be encouraged to buy and manage sites themselves. He said: “The current adversarial approach is not helpful to anybody.”

Joseph Jones, a spokesman for the Gypsy Council, said the granting of the Harlow injunction was “like a police state”.

He said: “Unauthorised encampments are a reaction to lack of provision by local authorities.

“What's to stop the Government from applying for an injunction for the whole country and managing to totally wipe out a way of life and a last resort for local people?”

The city council has spent an estimated £246,000 over the current financial year on clear-up costs, legal fees, repairs and staff for unauthorised encampments around the city.

Last year, six possession orders were served on traveller groups camped at Stanmer Park, five at Sheepcote Valley, four each at Black Rock and Waterhall and three orders were served in Preston Park.

The number of orders applied for does not necessarily equate to the total number of illegal encampments as travellers move and police use their powers to evict.

Councillor Pete West, chairman of the council’s environment committee, said he would keep an eye on the Harlow decision.

He said: “We do not tolerate unauthorised traveller encampments and continue to take into account all legal options open to us in dealing with them.

“However, we do not feel that city-wide bans on travellers acknowledge their legal right to their way of life.

“It is also important to note that the Harlow action has not yet been finalised by the court and is subject to challenge. As such we will be keeping it under review.

“We feel strongly that all authorities should take steps to accommodate travellers in a managed way, and that this should include the provision of permanent traveller sites.”

Both East and West Sussex County Councils told The Argus they felt able to manage the issue with their existing arrangements.