A HYNDBURN councillor has accused the cabinet of dragging its heels over plans to deal with with travellers setting up unauthorised camps in the borough.

Earlier this year a draft strategy on how to deal with the issue was drawn up, but at a meeting of the cabinet in September members said they were unhappy about parts of it and deferred the decision on it.

At a meeting of the full council, Clayton-le-Moors councillor Tim O'Kane asked when it would be made policy.

He said: "I believe the leader of the council is sitting on the fence on this one because it keeps being bounced backwards and forwards."

Coun John Griffiths, portfolio holder for corporate governance, said: "It is important that we get this through, but it is more important that we get it right before we put it through.

"There is no way this is going to be rushed. It was held up by the cabinet because we felt that it needed more consideration. We didn't think it was worded properly and until we get it right we are not going to move it forward."

The strategy included a code of conduct for travellers moving on to unauthorised sites in the borough outlining how would be expected to behave. It also set out the procedure the council and police would follow from the moment they are notified about the site through to eviction procedure, if that was necessary.

The code of conduct included keeping groups "small and inconspicuous", keeping the area clean and tidy, not allowing sites to become "polluted with human or animal faeces", keeping animals under control and not blocking rights of way.

It stated that eviction action would be taken if travellers failed to comply with the code and if a camp created an "intolerable nuisance".

to the public because of its size, location, nature or duration, or if it caused a hazard to road safety or health and safety, or damage to land or property.

Travellers' health, education, housing and welfare needs would also be taken into account before any action was taken.