CITY leaders have been accused of trying to "bulldoze" plans for Gypsy and traveller sites through Plymouth City Council.

Plympton St Mary Conservative councillor Patrick Nicholson argues there has been no proper debate.

He said Barry Keel, Plymouth City Council's chief executive, was trying to shut down debate.

Labour councillor Andy Kerswell has asked solicitors to investigate whether Mr Keel has the authority to ban special area committees to discuss the controversial subject of Gypsy camps.

Mr Keel wrote to councillors last week telling them that they could not call the special meetings, and that council officers would not be sent to any meetings to discuss Gypsies and travellers.

"I'm flabbergasted that Barry Keel believes he can take such an action," Mr Kerswell, the councillor for Efford and Lipson, said yesterday. "It stifles debate. I have contacted my party's solicitors and asked them to investigate.

"I am an elected representative and I'm being denied the chance to have a debate."

The council's Cabinet has approved work to prepare a bid for Government money to build a site at Efford Warren. Cabinet members also agreed to start consultation on using land at Coypool and at Coombe Farm, St Budeaux for Gypsy sites.

Both decisions have been challenged and will be scrutinised at a special meeting in the council chamber on Thursday.

Mr Kerswell, who challenged the Efford plan along with fellow Labour councillors Mark Coker and Claude Miller, urged Efford residents to attend the meeting at 1.30pm in the Council House.

Mr Nicholson and his Conservative colleagues Samantha Leaves and Terri Beer have challenged the Cabinet's decision on the Coypool and St Budeaux sites.

Mr Nicholson said: "This process is extremely important. I would like the local community to engage in the process through observing the debate at the council and at the right time by making their views known.

"The Cabinet has really tried to bulldoze this through the council.

"The land at Coypool isn't wholly owned by Imrys. It's in the ownership of Cundy Farms, so the report that went to Cabinet was factually incorrect.

"There was no discussion at Cabinet of alternative sites that have been dismissed.

"The report says that a site at Ernesettle is unsuitable because of a conflict with the waste management strategy. But there's a similar conflict at Coypool."

And Gary Streeter, the MP for South West Devon, said he had voted against Government legislation to force councils to provide sites for Gypsies and travellers.

Mr Streeter said: "I voted against the change of law that made councils provide sites. The obligation on councils is completely wrong.

"If the Conservatives were in power we would give a bit more flexibility to councils.

"I strongly oppose the huge obligation to make this provision for people who contribute little or nothing."

Mr Kerswell said he had been given copies of the minutes of council management meetings which show that Efford was considered unsuitable for a Gypsy and traveller site.

The land at Military Road was a Gypsy camp for three years. It was closed down in 1974 after Gypsies used the toilet and shower block as stables and offices, despite there being a warden on site, Mr Kerswell said.

"The residents of Efford have been duped. The council has done its consultation by stealth."

He said a managed site would not stop the problem of unauthorised encampments in the city.

Gypsies and travellers would be turned away if they had misbehaved or failed to pay their rent at other sites around the country. If that happened, they would just park by the road, he said.

Possible Gypsy and Traveller sites Plymouth City Council rejected as unsuitable:

Private land in and around Efford Laira Battery.

Rejected: a scheduled Ancient Monument

Expand Efford Warren (Showmen’s Guild site). Private.

Rejected: impact on nature conservation site.

Grassed area opposite entrance to Wilbert Road on Forder Valley Road. Council-owned by the council.

Rejected because it is within a flood plain and a local nature reserve.

Forder Valley Road: council storage depot.

Rejected: Narrow site, with entrance in flood zone. Maintaining access for emergency vehicles; inadequate turning areas; minimal capacity for pitches / poor value for money. Security. Shady, and intimidating impact on adjacent nature conservation site.

Former council-owned sports field at Ernesettle Lane West.

Rejected: Within the MoD safeguarding zone.

Ernesettle Lane East, and South of Northolt Ave

Rejected: Former MoD site now privately owned with planning permission on part of the site for a motorcycle test centre.

Potential conflict with the waste handling strategy, and within the outer

MoD safeguarding zone

Toshiba, Ernesettle Lane, north of sewage works. Private.

Rejected: Next to sewage works and because of the effect on a major employer.

Ernesettle Lane allotments, east of Ernesettle Lane at top of hill, and west of graveyard.

Rejected: Private land under consideration for alternative uses, and a visually exposed location.

Honicknowle tip, north side of A38, and Burrington Industrial Estate. Council-owned land close to A38.

Rejected: Likelihood of strong objection from Highways Agency so access would need to be through residential estate. Land contaminated with methane and has a sewer running through it.

Bickleigh Down, Woolwell. Council land next to Bickleigh Down Road, Towerfield Drive and Tavistock Road.

Site to be developed as mixed development including a supermarket (Lidl) in next two to five years.

Blunts Lane, off Forder Valley, west of Blunts Lane, south of Poole Fars. Part council-owned and private.

Rejected: Very poor access, flood zone, steep gradient. Potential effect on implementation of Derriford and Seaton Area Action Plan.

Land at Novorossisk Road, southwest of the roundabout at the junction of Plymbridge Road, and Novorossisk Road. Council/private.

Rejected: An area of open space acting as a buffer between the industrial estate and adjacent residential development to the south. There is a clean air covenant in place with regard to nearby Wrigley’s Factory. Under the flight path to Plymouth Airport.

Council site next to George Junction Park and Ride, north of Plymbridge Road, and east of Tavistock Road.

Rejected: Site too exposed and inappropriately close to road junction for caravans.

Bell Close, Plympton, off Newnham Road. Private.

Rejected: Land allocated as factory expansion land and within an established industrial area. Poor access to services such as schools and health facilities.

Adjacent factories are potentially unsuitable neighbouring uses because of noise and disturbance.

Black Quarry, Elburton Road. Private.

Rejected: Site now developed as motorbike shop.

Chelson Meadow (post closure). Council-owned. No specific site identified.

Rejected: Government guidance is to avoid development on or near landfill. Problems with methane gas and rats.

Rock Gardens, Plymstock Quarry, north of Billacombe Road. Former entrance to

cement works/quarry. Private.

Rejected: Already set aside for broader use in Blue Circle development.

Extension of the Ride Gypsy site. Council-owned.

Rejected: Government guidance is to avoid development on or near landfill. Existing site not well located.

Goodwin Park, Southway. Part of public open space Council-owned.

Rejected: Poor access for vehicles in the area around the site coupled with a lack of turning space

Land North of Belliver Way. Open field and slopes to north of industrial estate. Private.

Rejected: Poorly located for services and amenities. Much of site steeply sloping, with deliverability issues. Visual impact on surrounding landscape.

Land at Hayesend Farm, Coombe Lane, Tamerton Foliot. Private.

Rejected: Fairly steeply sloping land accessed by very narrow lane. Visual impact on surrounding landscape and setting of conservation area.

Blagdons Meadow Land off Embankment Road, next to Blagdons Boat Yard. Council-owned.

Rejected: High-risk flood plain and within a nature reserve (rare orchids).

Old Western National bus depot, Laira Bridge, Billacombe Road. Private.

Rejected: Land likely to be required for Eastern Corridor transport improvements.