NORTHERN powerhouse minister Jake Berry has said there appears to be no need for more designated sites for gypsies and travellers in East Lancashire.

The Rossendale and Darwen MP was speaking after a public meeting at the AB&D Centre in Bacup dominated by residents' concerns about a proposed transit site at Futures Park.

Ribble Valley Council Conservative leader Cllr Ken Hind and Hyndburn Labour boss Cllr Miles Parkinson said it was up to every borough to provide designated travellers' sites.

Mr Berry said: "Across East Lancashire there are approximately 150 pitches for gypsies/travellers and the neighbouring boroughs of Ribble Valley, Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn have stated there is no need for additional gypsy/traveller pitches.

"I am calling on Rossendale Council to talk to our neighbouring boroughs here in East Lancashire about sharing the provision.

"There is already a potential oversupply here in East Lancashire so there is no need for a gypsy/traveller site in Bacup, or indeed anywhere in Rossendale."

Currently Pendle and Burnley have none, Blackburn with Darwen Council runs one official site with 20 pitches at Ewood, Ribble Valley has two with nine pitches and Hyndburn has several sites.

Burnley Council recently abandoned plans to include one in Oswald Street, Stoneyholme, in its new Local Plan.

Cllr Parkinson said: "We have several sites and have done our fair share. It is up to other council to do the same."

Cllr Hind said: "We have fulfilled our duty on these sites. Other councils should do the same in terms of fairness and geographical spread."

A Rossendale Council spokesman said: "We are committed to being transparent and working with the public on this with a full six-week public consultation scheduled.

"To have our Local Plan approved, the Government legally requires the council to identify what traveller sites are needed across the borough. We identified a need to provide a stopover site for four transit pitches available for use by gypsies and travellers who come through Rossendale on their way to and from locations outside of the borough."

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: "We have fulfilled our duty with the site at Ewood."