North Norfolk Council's cabinet voted to accept the proposed temporary site at the eastern end of the bypass at its meeting on Tuesday. But at the same time it voted to strongly oppose a regional strategy which would see 15 permanent residential pitches created in the district. Councillors said there was no proven need for the measure.

Members also accepted a proposed travellers' site off Holt Road in Cromer.

Although the final decision on both sites rests with the full council, the vote means planning applications for the two sites are set to be submitted later this month.

Councillors backed the idea for temporary sites, which will cost £844,000 in Fakenham and £545,000 in Cromer to create. The cost is higher in Fakenham because of the extra roadworks needed at the entrance.

Grant funding from the Government will cover the costs of building with running costs coming out of the council's environmental health budget.

Running costs will be modest, helped by the reduced costs of managing unauthorised camps, a report before the meeting said.

Both sites came up against strong opposition, particularly in Fakenham, with some people believing the outcome of a parish poll opposing the site had been ignored.

As cabinet members agreed to the temporary sites, they voted to repeat their clear message to the East of England Regional Assembly that its strategy of forcing each district in the region to have 15 full-time residential pitches was unacceptable.

The unelected regional body announced the proposals last year and they are due to be scrutinised by inspectors shortly.