ELEVEN new sites for travellers may have to be found in the Basingstoke area under new proposals being considered by Hampshire County Council.

A county report on gypsies and travellers says that a total of 120 new temporary sites are needed and Basingstoke, along with every other district council in Hampshire, would need to find 11 sites if the report - being considered by the policy and resources committee - is adopted.

The report says that during the summer months, there are normally in the region of 200 caravans moving around the county and stopping at unauthorised sites.

Cllr Ken Thornber, executive member for policy and resources and county council leader, confirmed the suggested figure of 120 sites.

He said: "In order to respond to the Government's proposals, there will need to be a significant number of temporary stopping sites in the county - of which 11 per district is the absolute maximum."

He added: "In identifying any sites, there will need to be extensive consultation by the districts and boroughs in their role as local planning authorities."

Cllr Rob Donnelly, deputy leader of Basingstoke council, was shocked by the number of sites being suggested.

"It sounds ridiculous - that's just madness," he said. "Eleven sites in our borough would mean that everyone in the Basingstoke area would have a travellers' site near them."

Hatch Warren councillor Phil Heath - who represents the area adjacent to the former Peak Copse gypsy site, which the county has confirmed will remain closed - said: "It sounds frightening to have this number of sites. But it is just a statistic based on the total number of travellers in the county at one time. You don't need that many sites."

The Government is planning to give local authorities greater powers to move on people in illegal encampments - but only if they have a site in their area that they can be directed to.