Proposals to sell off an Ipswich travellers site have been labelled ‘short-sighted’ by Labour councillors, who will attempt to put any decision on hold when leaders meet on Tuesday.

Suffolk County Council is considering selling the West Meadows site to save money.

But Labour group leader, Sandra Gage, and the party’s communities spokeswoman, Mandy Gaylard, said the proposal lacked “basic understanding of the real, sustainable options”.

The opposition councillors accused the Conservative-led authority of trying to “free itself of a financial burden”, without formal consultation with the borough council, police or residents of the site.

Labour will ask for more detailed consultation, considering all viable options.

A council report said damage to the site in the last 18 months had cost £390,000.

The council said that, if the site is sold, a covenant would be put in place to secure its future for use by the travelling community.