EXTRA powers to tackle travellers pitching up on open space would “criminalise the homeless”.

Conservative leader Tony Cox called on the council to introduce a Public Space Protection Order meaning no one can camp or sleep overnight in a public place without written consent.

The order would have given the council the ability to fine those who violate it, but council bosses have said the proposal is too broad and could inadvertently impact rough sleepers.

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon, deputy council leader Ron Woodley said: “We have to recognise we don’t know what the fallout of the Covid-19 situation will be with landlords evicting families, we have to be very careful these people are not targeted by this approach.

“We also have a great communication line with police they work well with us, the legal team and the courts.

“We have had traveller incursions into the town but other towns have had it a lot worse.”

Councillor Anne Jones also warned the wording of the proposal could mean the council is seen to be “straying into impacting people who may have become homeless” and said it should be a lot more specific.

Councillor Kevin Robinson added: “It is extremely difficult with the open nature of public spaces and the open nature of the borough to actually enforce what is being asked for.

“We do have a history of traveller incursions at certain times of the year, so far in 2020 there has been five and we know there has been social media coverage of what’s gone on recently but what we need from motions is a degree of ability to enforce them. This would be tricky.”

The rejection of the motion is another hit to efforts by the Conservative Group to push the administration to act over travellers.

For the past year, the party has also been calling for the introduction of a borough-wide injunction which would mean police can force travellers to move on immediately.

That suggestion was also thrown out after legal officers concluded there was not enough evidence to make a request possible through the courts.

While the Tories have continued to assert that an injunction is possible, Labour council leader Ian Gilbert has promised the council will begin gathering evidence.