The official short-stay camp for 22 caravans would be on private land near the M5 and Cribbs Causeway.

South Gloucestershire councillor Sheila Cook, said: "We have two permanent council-run sites at the moment. We don't need any more in the parish."

But Romany Gypsy liaison officer, Maggie Smith-Bendel, said: "Councils have to provide according to need."

She added: "I'm getting a lot of phone calls from that area with people looking for permanent and transit sites.

"These people have got to go somewhere. This won't cost the council or taxpayers anything."

Ms Cook said sites had to be judged on their merits.

The proposed site is owned by a Romany Gypsy.