The council said a transit site was needed in the west of the county

The site at Southerham would have seven pitches, instead of 10, with washing and toilet facilities and a warden.

East Sussex County Council said plans have police and community backing, and the site will be smaller but better.

The council said travellers wanted to call it Bridie's Tan, a Romany Gypsy word meaning stopping place or land.

"The development of properly-managed transit sites is one of the keys for dealing with unauthorised encampments," Councillor Bob Tidy said.

The cabinet member for community planning added: "They mean that police can move travellers on immediately from private land if requested by a landowner".

He said people would be allowed to stay there for three months and the authority had identified a need for a transit site in the west of the county.

A finance bid is being submitted to a sites' fund run by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.