CONTROVERSIAL plans to allow gypsies to camp on unofficial sites are set to be approved.
Areas which are deemed suitable by the council will be designated as ‘temporary tolerance zones’, where travellers will have permission to spend a few days.
A decision on which parts of the borough will be used for the scheme has not yet been made and the when it is approval will need to be sought from the planning board.
Tolerance zones are being implemented as a short-term solution to a shortage of authorised pitches for the gypsies.
Barnsley has a council-owned site, at Smithies, and one privately owned camp. They provide room for a total of 53 caravans, but there is a 64 strong waiting list.
Over five years the council has spent thousands on dealing with gypsies who set up illegal camps.
Legal and court fees for eviction account for some of the £25,000 cost, but more than half went on clearing up after they left.
Council spokesman for development Coun Bill Newman says it will be several months before the new rules are in place.
He added: “It’s important that we have an organised structure rather than an ad hoc situation."
