THE Peak Copse travellers' site off the A30, south of Basingstoke, is to remain closed.

Following a secret review of gypsy and traveller services, Hampshire County Council executive member for policy and resources, Cllr Ken Thornber, is set to make the decision approving the permanent closure of Peak Copse next Wednesday.

He will also authorise county council officers to explore the possibility of providing sites for temporary stopping places in the county.

Cllr Thornber will further back joint initiatives taken by the county with district councils over unauthorised encampments.

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood borough councillor, Phil Heath, who is also a county councillor, welcomed the moves.

He said: "In the review I said that the Peak Copse site should not be re-opened unless the county council could guarantee that the travellers would be controlled and officers would have the power to move them on if they started causing trouble in the community.

"It was closed due to fighting among the travellers several years ago when guns were used.

"I am glad they are not going to re-open it. This is a valuable piece of land and a proper use should be found for it. "I would welcome greater powers for councils to move on travellers who set up unauthorised camps - but it doesn't look like they will have time to grant it in this Parliament.

"This summer we were invaded by travellers who broke into Woodlands Park off Beggarwood Lane and also trashed areas in Chineham and Popley.

"In Woodlands Park they broke down young trees and left enough rubbish to fill a 32-tonne skip. Clearing up after them costs Basingstoke council £40,000 a year - and this is repeated across the county, totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"I think we need temporary stopping places for travellers. If you take the Basingstoke borough area, there are a number of very big lay-bys on main routes, which could be expanded to make temporary stopping sites. They are far enough away from people's houses in areas where they will not cause a nuisance.

"I am quite happy for temporary sites to be set up on some of these places in the Basingstoke area."