Five gypsy and traveller sites have been sold off by the county council due to “budget pressures”.  

Sites at Green Park in Amersham, The Orchards in Chalfont St Peter, Mansion Lane in Iver and Wapseys Wood in Gerrards Cross have been sold to Best Holdings – a company that manages residential caravan parks across the country.

The fifth site - Bottom Waltons, in Burnham – has been sold to local businessman Stephen Devonshire.

Bucks County Council’s decision to sell the sites as going concerns comes after budget pressures and a lack of funding to invest in the sites meant selling was the “best long-term option”.

Since 2004, he said, the County Council has had no legal responsibility to provide gypsy and traveller accommodation, although it has continued to do so.

The sale of the council's five gypsy and traveller was authorised last month by cabinet member for planning and environment Warren Whyte.

It comes at the end of a year-long engagement process with residents, and officers have been visiting all of them to bring them up-to-date with information about the sale.

Cllr Whyte said: “The decision was based on the bidders' experience, their policies and procedures, and their knowledge and understanding of the residents’ needs.

“We've worked hard to ensure that site residents have the same level of confidence in the new owners that they had when we managed the sites.”

Legally, there is no risk to residents' homes because pitch agreements under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 protect their residency rights.