A short-stay site for gipsies and travellers on the outskirts of Cromer is poised to take a step nearer becoming reality despite concerns from townsfolk.

A short-stay site for gipsies and travellers on the outskirts of Cromer is poised to take a step nearer becoming reality despite concerns from townsfolk.

Plans for a £545,000 camp on the Holt road should be submitted in the middle of this month, along with a similar scheme at Fakenham, according to a report going to North Norfolk District Council's cabinet on Tuesday.

Community director Steve Blatch insists that, although there is strong opposition among “large elements of the local community close to the facilities”, the transit sites are vital to help reduce tensions between the settled and travelling communities caused by unauthorised encampments.

Even so, one of the Cromer objectors, Roger Hardy, said he was poised to rekindle their opposition at the planning stage.