COPELAND residents are being invited to have their say on two potential sites for allocation as Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.

By law, the council must meet the housing needs of all its residents - including those who identify as Gypsies, Travellers and travelling showpeople.

A county-wide assessment has identified a need for 12 pitches for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in Copeland.

The council has assessed possible areas for this, with two potentially suitable sites being:

• Land north of Greenbank, Whitehaven, between Woodhouse Road and Low Road

• Land at Sneckyeat, Whitehaven, between Sneckyeat Industrial Estate and the Cumbria Sports Academy

The survey is part of a consultation on a planning document that will guide development decisions in the future - the Copeland Local Plan 2021-38.

Residents and other interested parties can see the consultation document and comment on the potential sites at: https://www.copeland.gov.uk/content/gypsy-and-traveller-site-allocation-consultation before the draft plan moves into its final stages.

The most suitable site will be added to the Local Plan as an allocation, then the full plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State for a Public Examination. It is anticipated the Local Plan will be adopted in early 2023.

This part of the Local Plan consultation will last six weeks, ending on Tuesday, May 3.