People are being given the chance to have their say on proposed gypsy and traveller sites in the county.

A consultation on the possible locations, including one in West Dorset, begin this week.

The sites include the Old Chapel Yard at Marshwood, the redundant army training camp in Wyke Regis, Weymouth and the former Guard House at Piddlehinton Industrial Estate near Dorchester.

West Dorset District Council is working with North Dorset and East Dorset District Councils to produce a document which will allocate permanent and transit sites for gypsies and travellers to meet Dorset’s needs until 2028.

The Dorset-wide Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocation Joint Development Document will deal with the provision of sites for gypsies and travellers across Dorset.

It is claimed having enough permanent and transit sites would help the police use special powers to move travellers who camp illegally on private or public land.

It could reduce problems with associated anti-social behaviour by having properly managed sites and limit the detrimental effects on travelling communities’ health, education and well-being.

All of the Dorset councils are working together to consult on the additional potential sites in their areas.

Although the authorities have worked closely with consultants, they have made no decision on the site options included in the original consultation or those included in this current one.

The consultation on all the additional sites put forward for further consideration will run for six weeks from today until Friday, October 24.

People are encouraged to respond to the consultation online.

The document, with details of exhibitions and sites across Dorset, can be found at dorsetforyou. com/travellerpitches Alternatively, questionnaires can be completed and handed in at one of the exhibitions or sent through the post to: Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Consultation, County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ.