The proposed sites would have toilets, showers and electricity

Devon County Council wants to create the sites at the Haldon picnic area, near Exeter, and alongside the A381 at Woods Cottage, near Totnes.

The council wants to take advantage of government funding which has become available because of a new national policy regarding travellers and gypsies.

The county council says that when unofficial places are closed down, the problem just moves somewhere else.

The sites at Haldon and near Totnes would have showers, toilets, clean water and electricity, and travellers would have to pay rent.

Travellers have been part of Devon's culture for centuries Councillor Mike Knight

In addition to the two sites, the county council also wants to develop a network of roadside emergency stopping places on council-controlled land.

These would not have the facilities of a transit site, but would provide a place to stop for a few days if there was an urgent need.

Councillor Mike Knight, executive member for community planning, said the council could no longer bury its head in the sand and hope the issue would go away.

Following traditions

He said the council was seeking a pragmatic, but humane, solution to a chronic and costly problem for public agencies and communities across Devon.

"Travellers have been part of Devon's culture for centuries," he said.

"There are up to 3,000 in the county in any one year and the vast majority are law-abiding people who just want to get on quietly with their lives following their own traditions.

"But a small minority, approximately 200, are occupying unauthorised sites at any one time and the impact this has on neighbouring settled communities, businesses, landowners and public services is disproportionately high."