Gypsy site consultation concludes

A public consultation into how and where to place 49 gypsy pitch sites in Wiltshire has come to an end.

But the change in central government means council planning chiefs may need to hold further consultations.

The review lasted eight weeks and attracted "several hundred" responses from Wiltshire residents.

But councillors have been told by Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles that the 49 pitches figure no longer applies.

That means new criteria will have to be drawn up and a new round of consultations might begin.

Wiltshire Council cabinet member for environment and waste Toby Sturgis said a new transit site was "definitely" needed.

But he added: "There has been a lot of evidence that there are a lot of vacant pitches on larger sites."

The last consultation formally ended on Friday, but further input is being welcomed by the council.