Black Country travellers’ camp back on cards despite objections

CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a temporary travellers’ site in the Black Coutry have been approved. A plot of land off Budden Road, in Coseley, will be available within months, although it is expected to be “used rarely”.

The proposals were met with fury from some nearby residents who demanded an alternative location.

But after a two-year wrangle, Dudley Council has decided to forge ahead with the £280,000 project, saying it had been “rigorously scrutinised” by councillors.

The plans were put on hold last month to allow elected members to look at the proposals and make recommendations.

And earlier this month, a crossparty committee visited the site.

The plans were also discussed at a meeting of the full council on February 24.

Leader Councillor Patrick Harley

said: “These proposals have been rigorously scrutinised, which is only right to make sure we make the correct decision. Again, I’d like to reassure residents it is highly unlikely that this site will be used.

“But importantly, it gives us greater powers to deal with illegal encampments quickly, more cheaply and more efficiently by having a temporary site in place. “What is important now is that we monitor the site closely and listen to the views of local people during the next three years.” Dudley Council received approval for the Budden Road site in 2018. The plans were shelved while the council carried out further searches for another location.

In January, the plans for the temporary Coseley site were picked back up.

A spokesman for the council said: “The introduction of the £280,000 temporary transit site will give the council, in partnership with police, additional legal powers to remove any unauthorised encampments which target open spaces in the borough.

“Sandwell already has a site in place and Wolverhampton and Walsall are also looking at potential sites, increasing pressure on Dudley Council to avoid a displacement of unauthorised encampments from elsewhere in the Black Country.

“The site will be used extremely rarely and will not cause disruption to the lives of the local community.”

The proposed site in Coseley will be open by late spring and will be monitored closely with council bosses keen to reassure residents who have previously expressed concerns about the proposal.

The council is currently spending around £150,000 a year on legal fees and clean-up costs.