By Ian Austen

ian.austen@essnmedia.co.uk

Croydon Council faces having to find £100,000 after London mayor Boris Johnson called for more travellers' sites across the capital.

The mayor's London Plan, which lays down strategic policy for development across the capital, includes measures which will see the number of caravan pitches for travellers doubled to 1,500 within the next decade.

Croydon's share of this, according to Dudley Mead, the council's cabinet member for housing, will require it to provide an extra 22 pitches.

Councillor Mead hopes that at least five extra pitches could be provided at the council's existing permanent encampment in Latham's Way, off Beddington Farm Road, Croydon.

He said: "We have no choice with this and it means we have still got to find 17 new pitches and we are now looking at where they could be located.

"We have not come up with anything yet but we have probably got to be looking at under-utilised industrial sites as being the favourites and land off Purley Way is likely to be considered."

Before any site can be finalised plans will have to go out to public consultation.

Cllr Mead said: "It is expensive to create new pitches because we have to provide running water, sewage facilities and electricity.

"We haven't arrived at how much the project would cost but I think it will be in the region of £100,000."