AN URGENT meeting is to be called to discuss controversial plans to make Horsdean, Patcham, a permanent site for travellers.

Brighton Council chiefs are two weeks away from submitting their bid to put 20 traveller pitches on the site adjacent to the bypass.

In March more than 150 caravans, mobile homes and cars owned by travellers who had swamped the ten-acre pitch were evicted.

It followed anger among locals who feared too many travellers were living at Horsdean. Now they are to meet in Patcham to debate ways of preventing the green field site returning to the state in which it was left by travellers. Broken children's toys, old vehicles and piles of rubbish were left strewn on mud 3ft deep.

Locals are remaining tight-lipped until they have seen plans for the proposed site.

Lucy Carty, spokeswoman for the Patcham Residents Support Group, said: "Many people think the travellers have gone and are not coming back. A lot of people do not know what is going on. We have asked for certain things to be included in the plans. Until we have seen them it is hard to comment.

"But we will be calling a public meeting as soon as we get the plans. People should come along and make up their own minds."

Brighton and Hove Council has for months indicated it wants to make Horsdean a permanent site for around 20 traveller families with local connections.

Acouncil spokesman said: "We are very aware of people's concern that the site will go back to how it was with hundreds of travellers.

"But a major part of our application will be that it cannot grow."

Council planners are currently locked in discussions with the Environment Agency and the South Downs Conservation Board about how to minimise the impact of the camp on the countryside.

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