FIVE new Midland sites have been identified as possible permanent homes for travelling communities.

Solihull Council has undertaken a consultation with residents into where travelling communities should be located in the future.

The local authority has just won a lengthy legal battle to remove an illegal camp at Eves Green Lane in Meriden.

But it is also one of the new sites that members of the public have suggested that the travellers should live.

In addition to the five new greenbelt sites, owners of four existing traveller sites in Solihull have come forward to say that their sites could be extended.

The proposals are proving controversial with those who live in the settled areas nearby – even though no site has yet been put forward for actual development.

One parish councillor has declared that he would fight any plans for a travellers site in his area “to the bitter end”.

The five new sites are at:

* Eaves Green Lane in Meriden;

* School Road in Hockley Heath;

* Waste Lane and Old Waste Lane in Balsall Common;

* Shadowbrook Lane in Hampton-in-Arden; and

* Damson Lane in Solihull.

The existing travellers sites where owners have indicated they would be happy to extend or increase the number of pitches are at:

* Salter Street in Earlswood;

* Canal View, off Salter Street;

* The Warren in Bickenhill Lane, Marston Green; and

* The Haven, in Catherine-de-Barnes Lane in Bickenhill.

But Balsall Common Parish Councillor Dr Peter Lea said: “If the land in Balsall Common was selected as a permanent site we would fight it to the bitter end.

“It is green belt land which travellers have no right to use and develop.

“There is plenty of brown belt land and that is what should be being used for gypsy and traveller sites, in my opinion.

“Green belt land is not appropriate and should not be used for permanent gypsy and traveller sites.”