COUNCILLORS will today (Thursday) be asked to choose between two locations for a new travellers' site in Hereford.

The first is to refurbish the former vandalised site at Grafton to a smaller size and sell off surplus land. The second is to provide an alternative new site in Watery Lane at Lower Bullingham and sell off the whole Grafton site.

Last December, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister granted the council £300,000 towards a £400,000 redevelopment scheme for Grafton, but cut the size from 20 to 10 pitches.

In a report before Herefordshire Council's cabinet today there is a warning that the money could be lost if the refurbishment does not go ahead. There was also a fear the Government could ask for repayment of some of the money it paid out to set up the Grafton site in 1992.

Two areas near an existing traveller's site at Watery Lane are under consideration, both owned by the council.

The report says selling Grafton and developing one of them would create the most financial benefits for the council. However, it was unlikely the council would get a grant towards the cost if it abandoned the development of Grafton.

"The consequences of not spending the grant money on Grafton are difficult to assess. Travellers' issues are currently high on the political agenda and indications are that the use of the grant for purposes other than the refurbishment of Grafton could result in the ODPM finding means of recouping the grant,'' said the report.

It also referred to the possibility of further vandalism at Grafton if a new site was developed there. It was close to the A49 trunk road and was more at risk to 'opportunist problems'.

Cabinet members are being told that travellers and Herefordshire Travellers Support Group favour the Grafton site.

The report also points out that the Watery Lane sites would need planning permission, and could have a detrimental effect on the proposed Rotherwas access road.