A CRACKDOWN on unwanted traveller sites is being launched - after a summer in which they brought havoc to parts of Worcestershire.

The Government has updated its planning rules for councils in a bid to make it much harder for travellers to force through permanent pitches.

For the first time it introduces strict guidance to "respect the needs" of residents, and encourages councils to plan for employment land to be located next to any permanent traveller sites - an effort to encourage them to stay put and work there.

It also says there should be "no assumptions" made about local authorities offering up more permanent traveller sites, even if an area is already over-burdened by them.

The guidance makes it less likely that travellers can force through new sites by going cap-in-hand to a planning inspector - especially if councils have already decided where they want pitches to go.

On top of that, councils were previously required to provide sites for people evicted from large-scale unauthorised encampments that happened to be in their area - but the ruling has been scrapped.

Councils can also refuse planning applications for temporary traveller pitches on any 'green space' without fear of appeal.

The emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), a blueprint for development between now and 2030, already provides provision for an extra 377 pitches.

That includes 106 in Wychavon, which is taking the lions share, 24 in Malvern and 13 in Worcester.

All three districts also have 234 pitches now, with just 19 of those in Worcester, at fields off Offerton Lane, while Malvern has 22 and Wychavon 193.

The new guidance follows a summer in which travellers regularly pitched up on unwanted sites, including leaving a trail of filth at Pitmaston Park in St John's.

They also went to a site belonging to the University of Worcester off Pitchcroft known as The Moors, Perdiswell playing fields, land off Broomhall Way in St Peter's and the grounds of St Egwin's C of E Middle School in Worcester Road, Evesham.

Other sites included the university's Henwick Road campus and various unauthorised locations in Stourport.

Councillor Emma Stokes, Wychavon District Council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "Travellers are valued members of the community and we welcome them here, they are very useful people.

"But we must make sure they are here legally, not illegally and we are very aware of the sensitivities."

The Government saws between 2000 and 2009 the number of illegal traveller occupations went up four-fold across the country - and rulings won on appeal for permanent sites increased by two thirds.

Housing and planning minister Brandon Lewis said: "Unauthorised traveller sites can blight communities, causing misery for their neighbours and creating resentment that planning rules don’t seem to be applied fairly."