PLYMOUTH still needs permanent Gypsy campsites even though the Government is tearing up the old rules surrounding land for travelling communities, says a leading city councillor.

Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, said last week that he would revoke the 'planning circulars' issued by the former Labour Government which set out strict requirements for town halls to provide land for Gypsies.

Mr Pickles is also looking at ways of increasing local authority powers to tackle unauthorised encampments, which are a source of major community tensions in some areas.

At the same time, however, councils are to be offered financial incentives for developing authorised sites where possible.

Last year Plymouth City Council was refused £1.3 million of funding by the previous Labour Government for a planned Gypsy and Traveller site at Efford Warren.

City Cabinet member Peter Brookshaw said: "If we had the finances I would be delighted to push along with Efford — or any other site that might become available.

"I am in favour of having proper sites because I know the problems unauthorised sites have caused the city council over the past four or five years.

"It costs the council tens of thousands of pounds a year to clean up the illegal sites and causes inconvenience for local people.

"If we had proper sites we would have the power to tell travellers to leave the city if they did not want to stay in a controlled site where they would pay rent."

A council spokeswoman said: "No Government funding is now available.

"We still have an assessment which shows that Plymouth needs 55 more pitches for Gypsies and Travellers and we are still getting a lot of unauthorised encampments.

"Although national requirements to provide sites are disappearing and we are no longer bound by such assessments, the Government is making it clear that councils should still considers local needs.

"We remain responsible for determining the right level of site provision and bringing forward land as appropriate."

She said: "We are considering our future approach to this issue in light of the changes."

Mr Pickles said at the weekend that traveller sites would be included in a new homes bonus scheme under which councils will be paid for properties they allow to be built in their area.

Travellers on official sites are also to be given the same rights and responsibilities as residents of other mobile home sites so that they have greater protection against eviction.