COUNCIL leader Cllr Russ Bowden has labelled the delays to identifying a location for the town’s future transit site for travellers as one of his ‘biggest disappointments’.

Hundreds of pieces of land have been assessed but none have been deemed to be deliverable by councillors so far.

Around £2 million has been set aside in the Labour-run authority’s capital budget for the facility, which Town Hall bosses believe will reduce the number of costly unlawful encampments.

It would allow officers to direct groups to the land.

A task group was set up to identify and recommend a site to the cabinet.

Cllr Bowden (LAB – Birchwood) admits the matter has left him disappointed but insists he remains committed to the plan.

Furthermore, he reaffirmed the need to ensure the future site is achievable and deliverable.

He said: “It is one of my biggest disappointments really because I wanted us to go into it with a lot of energy, which we have done.

“There is not much point plucking a site out which is not going to work.

“There is still a lot of work taking place behind the scenes and looking at options.”

The politician also says he believes a transit site is still the ‘right answer’ for the borough.

Cllr Bowden added: “Some people have said the Government is going to change the law but, if we wait for that to happen, that could be years off.

“What I want to see happening is the task group either recommends a site, or options for a site, and then the cabinet can make a decision but we are just not in that place yet.”