COUNCIL bosses are remaining adamant there are no suitable sites to place gypsy and traveller pitches, despite calls for them to provide 22 by 2017.

It follows last week's announcement by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who outlined his latest draft London Plan for all 32 boroughs.

The document includes a strategy for providing an additional 538 pitches for gypsies and travellers across London to address the increased demand.

The Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) worked with councils and traveller groups to devise the plan, which aims to set out a city-wide framework for development over the next 20 to 25 years.

Under the proposals, Barnet Council would be required to provide 22 pitches, which would include electric and water facilities for mobile caravans.

In a statement, council officials said they will be submitting a response to the full document during the draft consultation stage.

It added: “We recognise that the Greater London Authority (GLA) must provide a strategic view of the needs of Gypsy and Traveller communities across London.

“However, we have, along with other London boroughs, previously queried the methodology used for assessing need and allocating pitches.

“Previous exercises to identify possible sites for gypsy and traveller pitches in Barnet have shown that there are no suitable sites in the borough which would meet relevant criteria and we will be making representations to the GLA on behalf of our residents to make our views clear on this issue.”

There are currently no gypsy or traveller sites in the borough and council bosses have made it clear they are dubious about the plans.

In March, Tory Councillor Brian Coleman was branded “loud-mouthed” for making “inflammatory and quite disgraceful” comments about gypsies and travellers by Labour MP for Ealing Acton and Shepherds Bushon Andrew Slaughter while appearing on the BBC's Politics Show.

Mr Coleman, currently serving as mayor of Barnet, voiced his opinion on the topic in his capacity as assembly member for Barnet and Camden.

He declined to comment directly to the paper, but issued a joint statement through the GLA Conservative office which said: “The whole idea of top-down pitch targets is completely wrong. It should be communities telling the mayor how many pitches they can provide, not the other way around.

"The mayor needs to stand-up for London and refuse to pass on the Government’s bureaucratic targets for new gypsy sites.

“Being forced to provide more gypsy and travellers’ pitches will place a massive financial burden on councils.”