A COMPROMISE scheme that allows travellers to remain at a Richards Castle site until Christmas 2005 has been described as a "stitch-up" by the chairman of the local parish council.

On Tuesday, a public inquiry into the caravan site, which should have lasted three days, ended on the first morning after the travellers' legal adviser announced a three-point compromise solution during its opening minutes.

Under the peace plan, the travellers offered to leave the site at The Oakery in Wheatcommon Lane by December 17, 2005.

Meanwhile, South Shropshire District Council will work with them to find a suitable alternative site. There will be immediate steps taken to deal with drainage and environmental problems.

Councillor Peter Corfield said residents had hoped to see an end to what he called "this completely illegal encampment".

"It felt very much like a stitch-up. We have spent a great deal of money getting legal advice and we wanted to state our case.

"South Shropshire District Council now has to find an alternative site but anything could happen between now and 2005."

The owner of the site, farmer Tom Evans, had caused controversy by asking for a certificate of lawful use, arguing that the caravan dwellers had lived there for more than 10 years.

South Shropshire planning chief James Caird said: "We were surprised by the offer made at the beginning of the inquiry but we felt it represented the best way forward for all parties concerned."

When Mr Evans submitted his application, it provoked 139 letters of objection from the local community. The application was rejected and the travellers were given four months to quit by September 7. The setting up of the public inquiry gave them a temporary reprieve.

Among the issues were noise, as well as the lack of sanitation, electricity and treated water. Meetings began on Tuesday night to resolve these points.