A SHORTLIST made up of potential locations for a Warrington transit site for travellers could be finalised by the end of the year.

The town has again been blighted by unlawful encampments in the past week, which has led to further calls for tougher action to be introduced by the police and council.

Last Friday, travellers who set up a makeshift camp on Winwick Park moved from the land after Halton Magistrates' Court ordered them to do so.

Three days later council officers visited Alban Retail Park to assess an encampment but 'no welfare issues' were found and the matter was left with the site landlords.

Four caravans and associated vehicles left Silver Lane in Risley on Wednesday after the council served them with a notice – it came just two weeks after a group were last moved on.

The police were monitoring the situation and the authority was initially set to apply for a court order to compel the group to leave after the travellers failed to obey a notice ordering them to vacate the site by 1pm on Tuesday.

The authority has almost £2 million set aside to fund a transit camp but possible sites have remained a closely-guarded secret.

However, the planning for travellers task group is ramping up its efforts in a bid to combat the issue and save vital funds.

Cllr Russ Bowden (LAB – Birchwood), who is chairing the group, said: "The council and police are dealing with traveller encampments within the requirements of the law.

"This recognises the poorer health, education and life outcomes for the traveller community and the need to make welfare checks before seeking removal.

"In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of unauthorised encampments here in Warrington and we need to move to a more effective strategy.

"The provision of a designated transit site provides the police with more powers to remove unauthorised encampments.

"This is the approach taken by most of our neighbouring authorities and that makes Warrington an attractive destination for those groups that don't wish to use transit sites.

"Providing a transit site in Warrington isn't a soft option for travellers. It requires them to pay for use of the site and contribute towards the cost of services, such as waste.

"A well-managed site would be part of a new strategy for gypsies and travellers.

"I would much rather see the council spend resources on providing a more effective solution than simply paying to support this cycle of eviction and clean-up.

"The whole point is that is seeks to avoid the cycle of repeated clashes between travellers and the settled community.

"This is at the heart of residents' concerns. It goes without saying that any potential sites will only satisfy that criterion by not being immediately adjacent to residential areas."

The group is set to hold its first meeting in the near future to agree its 'criteria' and the 'process' going forward, with work to follow in the coming months ahead of the shortlist finalisation.

Cllr Bowden added: "This review will look at all available options, including council and privately-owned land.

"I hope to have a shortlist of potential options in place by the end of the year, after which we will undergo extensive public and stakeholder consultation.

"Any final recommendation will of course be subject to the full requirements of the planning application process."

Halton Borough Coucnil opened a transit site in Runcorn, on Warrington Road, in 2009, and has since noticed a dramatic reduction in the number of unauthorised encampments.

Before 2009 HBC confirmed it was 'dealing with' an average of 40 to 50 unauthorised encampments each year but since it has been operating it has dealt with an average of just seven a year.