ENRAGED residents have vowed to use the council's dawdling over a decision on the controversial travellers' site to galvanise support.

As exclusively revealed in yesterday's Daily Echo, Southampton City Council's ruling Liberal Democrats have put off making a ruling on the proposed Swaythling transit camp until February 26.

A decision on the planned 12-caravan Stoneham Way site was due to be made at next Monday's Cabinet meeting.

Travellers would be able to stay at the council-managed site for up to three months, but the authority would have stronger powers of eviction in the event of bad behaviour.

Having a permanent site would also give the council greater abilities to deal with illegal encampments that might spring up elsewhere in the city.

Council leader Adrian Vinson insists that delay is to allow for more consultation with local residents and traders, so that everyone can get the full facts.

However, residents say they believe it is just a face-saving exercise.

At the request of the three Swaythling Lib Dem ward councillors, the Cabinet will now not discuss the plans again until after a public meeting at Swaythling Youth Centre on February 10.

Opposition councillors have criticised the delay, which came just hours after plans to put off another controversial decision, about the Civic Centre laser light show, as "fudging" the issue.

Campaigners spent the weekend delivering leaflets to 2,000 homes in Swaythling and Mansbridge, and believe the extra time gives them a perfect opportunity to recruit even more support.

Claudeen Road resident Richard Rowe is one of those spearheading the campaign to prevent the site being put at Monks Brook.

He is sceptical about the reasons behind the delay, but is happy to take advantage of it.

Mr Rowe said: "Who are they going to speak to, if they are? They haven't spoken to us yet.

"We're gaining momentum now and by the time the 26th comes they're going to have a pretty good idea of how many people this is affecting.

"I think we've got 99.9 per cent backing of the 4,500 households in the Swaythling ward - the only people who aren't backing us are the councillors.

"I'm quite positive we'll get this plan rejected."