An area of land, adjacent to Broadmeadow Yard in Ross-on-Wye, has been identified by Herefordshire Council as a potential stopping place for Travellers.

It has been suggested that the use of this site, which would be located in close proximity to Morrisons supermarket, would be a temporary stopping place for members of the travelling community. The site would be able to accommodate up to five caravans at any one time.

Before any decisions are made, a further assessment is required on the flood risk. The site is shown as flood zone 3 on EA flood maps, but this area benefits from the Rudhall Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme. A local flood risk assessment will be carried out to assess the impact of this.

A further assessment on the safety of the area, with regards to the highways impact, will also be required.

The site has been identified by Herefordshire Council as a potential site, because the Travellers would be able to access a range of services and facilities.

The Council also believe that there is a potential for the enhancement of the site. Greenery would be planted, and fencing put in along the boundary, to provide more self-containment.Another area, in Leominster, adjacent to the roundabout on the A49, has also been identified as a potential site to be used as a temporary stopping place for the Travellers. Several other sites around the County have been selected as potential permanent residential areas for members of the travelling community. These include: Land near Whitfield Coppice, in Trumpet - a village between Ledbury and Hereford; an extension to the already existing Orchard Caravan Park in Lower Bullingham; land to the South East of Sutton St Nicholas; an extension to Pembridge campsite, an area owned by the local authority; the Open fields in Bromyard, another site already owned by Herefordshire Council, where additional pitches would also be created; and an extra pitch created at Romany Way in Grafton. A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council commented: "The establishment of transit pitches will enable the movement of Travellers through the county to be managed more harmoniously, providing greater certainty for Travellers and local residents."Herefordshire Council have launched a public consultation on the potential new sites and site extensions, as part of the preparation of the Herefordshire Local Plan Traveller Site Policy. This consultation will run until Monday, September 19th. For more information, see Herefordshire Council's Travellers Sites Document, which is available online. Click hereTo have your say in the consultation, click here