TOWN and parish councillors met with Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) on Monday at a special meeting to discuss the next step towards the final decision on gipsy and travellers sites. Three sites are in Comet country. One is on land at the rear of Hitc

TOWN and parish councillors met with Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) on Monday at a special meeting to discuss the next step towards the final decision on gipsy and travellers' sites.

Three sites are in Comet country. One is on land at the rear of Hitchin Road, Arlesey, and the other two are in Clifton on land south of the village and east of New Road.

The meeting was called prior to a public overview and scrutiny meeting on January 4.

Cllr Tom Nicols, CBC portfolio holder for sustainable development said:

"I would like to stress to residents that no final decision has been taken on the gipsy and traveller sites for Central Bedfordshire. The views of local people are vitally important to this process and we are encouraging local people to take part in this consultation and raise their comments on potential sites in their area.

"The proposed list, which will be discussed at Overview Scrutiny Committee on January 4, will be available to view on the council's website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk from Monday, December 21.

"This deals only with proposed sites in the northern (former Mid Beds) part of Central Bedfordshire. Proposals for the rest of the district will be considered and consulted upon at a later date.

"At the gipsy and traveller task force meeting on Monday local town and parish council representatives gave evidence on possible gipsy and traveller sites within Central Bedfordshire.

"The outcome of that meeting is not at this stage considered complete or final. On January 4 at the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee, members, in conjunction with the portfolio holder, will review the task force proposals with a view to agreeing which sites which will be put forward to full public consultation."

The full public consultation is due to start on January 25, and will run for six weeks.

Cllr Hugh Harper, mayor of Arlesey, who attended the meeting said: "The proposals are now being put forward and the public will have their say before any final decision is made.