MORE than 100 extra pitches for travellers and gypsies need to be found in south Bucks over the next ten years, according to a new report.

A survey commissioned on behalf of the four district councils serving the county showed a total of 108 extra pitches are needed over the next decade.

Nearly half, 47, have been earmarked for the Aylesbury Vale district area, while another 31 are set to be built in South Bucks.

Wycombe must provide 21 over the next ten years and Chiltern a further nine.

The report states that 69 of those need to be provided by 2018 and the remaining 39 are set to be installed over the following five years.

The survey also said an additional 20 pitches for travelling showpeople needed to be found across the county. Of those 16 would be in Chiltern, one in Wycombe and the remainder in Aylesbury Vale.

The assessment, carried out across the county by Opinion Research Services Ltd, was carried out between January and March this year.

It involved a number of face-to-face interviews with residents on existing traveller sites in the county, as well as telephone surveys with representatives of both the settled and travelling community.

Each of the four councils will now use the results of the study to help them consider how best to meet the needs which the survey has identified.

The research indicated that Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury, Hemel Hempstead, Chalfont St Peter and Iver are all popular areas with travellers.

Chiltern District Council has already pinpointed five existing traveller sites that could be extended and a further five that could be used to provide accommodation.

However the council has stressed this does not mean any of the identified sites is suitable for development, adding use of land for travellers or travelling showpeople within the Green Belt is inappropriate.